Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:306 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons sentenced to life imprisonment who are at liberty; and the supervision to which they are subject. [14390/98]
Written Answers. - Temporary Release of Prisoners.
The most recently available statistics indicate that 65 offenders sentenced to life imprisonment are currently at liberty. In practice, most such offenders were granted renewable temporary release whereby, unless the conditions of the release are breached, there is no requirement to return to prison except to renew the temporary release at specified intervals.
Offenders on renewable temporary release must be of good behaviour. Other conditions could include supervision by the Probation and Welfare Service, reporting at regular intervals to a Garda station etc. Temporary release automatically ends if any conditions are breached, in which event the individual concerned can be immediately returned to custody without warrant or without any court proceedings.