merrion street

• Cases of 122 prisoners reviewed during 2018, with 7 recommended for reviewable temporary release
• Average time served in custody prior to release by a life sentenced prisoner was 17.5 years
• Minister acknowledges importance of Parole Act 2019 and vital role played by Chairman and members of Board

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has today published the Annual Report of the Parole Board for 2018.

The Minister said:

The provision of advice to me on the management of long term prisoners’ sentences is a very complex and sensitive area. The actions of those who come before the Parole Board for consideration have had catastrophic and long lasting consequences for the victims of the offences concerned and their families. There are no easy decisions in these matters.  I would like to thank the Chairman, Mr John Costello, and the members of the Board for this difficult and vital work.

The Parole Board can make a variety of recommendations following their review of cases, including, but not limited to: working with therapeutic services, education, work training, resocialisation, step down to a less secure custodial environment, family visits at a neutral venue, transfer to an open centre, and reviewable temporary release. Life sentence prisoners who are granted temporary release are regarded in law as still serving that sentence and are liable to recall at any time.

122 prisoners were reviewed by the Parole Board during 2018. A total of 7 long-sentence prisoners were recommended for reviewable temporary release during the year. The average time served in custody prior to release by a life sentenced prisoner in 2018 was 17.5 years. Two released prisoners were returned to custody during 2018, one at his own request in the context of possible public safety concerns and the other following a charge of assault.

The Minister also took the opportunity to highlight the recent passing of the Parole Act 2019 which will set up an independent Parole Board. Rather than making recommendations to the Minister of the day, the new Board will make the final decision on whether to release a prisoner on parole. Prisoners serving life sentences will become eligible to be considered after 12 years (up from current 7 years) and victims will continue to be informed when a prisoner is to be considered for parole and will continue be able to make submission to Board.

The Minister added:

I am very pleased that the ground-breaking piece of legislation to establish the Parole Board on a statutory basis was recently passed by the Oireachtas before the summer recess. The reforms in the Parole Bill are designed to put the operation of the Parole Board on an independent, transparent and statutory footing and this will clearly set out how decisions on the granting, revoking and varying of parole orders will be made in the future.

The report is available on the Department of Justice and Equality website at http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Parole_Board_Annual_Report_2018.pdf/Files/Parole_Board_Annual_Report_2018.pdF