Fr. Peter McVerry:

It would come from the press. The report of the Irish Penal Reform Trust was severely criticised in some of the press. There was reference to letting out murderers and sex offenders early. There is a hostile attitude towards offenders generally within the population and certainly within some of the media. There is bound to be media opposition to any such measures if they are too dramatic. However, it might be different if they were introduced gradually. Professor O'Donnell noted that there is provision for one third remission in the prison rules already and that could take place without anyone noticing. That is the way to go. If one announced it, there would be a backlash from the tabloid media and from many sectors of the population. This might make it politically difficult to implement.