Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that and we are on the same page in respect of this. We remember the Joe O'Reilly case and vicious murder of his wife Rachel. He received a life sentence and he has already been granted access to the parole board. He applied for temporary release in 2021 having served just over 15 years. There are many cases like this. There are particularly difficult cases, such as that of Graham Dwyer who was convicted of the horrific murder of Elaine O'Hara. He must serve a minimum of 12 years and we can be sure he will not be slow to go before the parole board as is the case with many of these people. We need to have a review. In the review of overall sentencing and how the penal system works I fully agree we have to try to find a process that reforms people who can be reformed and do all of that. We must also look to the victims and families who have gone through the huge torture of losing a loved one or, worse, where people themselves have been the victims of terrible abuse. There has to be proper recourse for them.

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