As I indicated in reply to a previous parliamentary question on the matter, the Olden report to which the Deputy refers was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 6 July 2001. The report examined in great detail the management of the sentences of the life sentenced prisoner who murdered Mrs. Nolan on 14 February 2000 while on temporary release from Castlerea Prison. It illustrated some weaknesses in the system and made recommendations to deal with them. I asked the director general of the Prisons Service to implement all the recommendations of the report without delay and to take whatever other steps were necessary to improve procedures and risk assessment. The director general has assured me that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure the procedural deficiencies identified in the management of this case do not recur.
In addition, the recent establishment of the parole board with the required levels of resources will address other concerns raised in the report. The board has begun its work in reviewing cases and advising me in regard to the sentence management of long-term prisoners coming before it. The board considers reports from the various services dealing directly with a particular prisoner. Particular attention is paid to the therapeutic work a prisoner has undertaken in regard to his or her offending behaviour and to the views of An Garda Síochána.
I again express regret at the tragic consequences of the release of this prisoner and extend my sympathy to the family of Mrs. Nolan on the death of their mother two years ago this week.
