Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I am moved by Senator Ó Murchú's intervention because some years ago my wife had a similar harrowing experience. The Prison Service may well be confusing not having a statutory duty and not having the power to inform victims of prisoners' releases. There is nothing to prevent an administrative instruction being given in this regard. We do not have to wait for legislation. An administrative instruction should be given that in these circumstances the families of the immediate victim should be informed that such and such a person is being released. In that manner they would not learn of it from the public press or run the risk of bumping into the person in the supermarket or church and learning about it that way. Informing them in advance would be a more compassionate way of dealing with releases.

There is room for a wider debate on the issue of released prisoners, particularly those who have committed sexual offences. We should debate how they can be treated fairly and in a way that will protect the public and the victims and their sensibilities without turning into a witch-hunt.