Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 395: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason that prisoners with an improved behaviour record are being refused sensible pre-release courses (details supplied). [5650/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person referred to by the Deputy was convicted of manslaughter in December 2002 and received a 14 year prison sentence. This term of imprisonment was subsequently reduced to eight years at the Court of Criminal Appeal in 2004. He is due for release in December, 2008. The Deputy will be aware of the Parole Board, which was established in order to review the cases of long term prisoners having regard to issues such as the prisoner's progress to date, the degree to which the prisoner has engaged with the various therapeutic services, the potential danger to the public and how best to proceed with the future administration of the sentence.

This individual's case was most recently reviewed by the Parole Board in July 2007. At that review the Board recommended that he should remain in closed prison conditions pending his next review and should engage with the therapeutic services on outstanding areas of concern. I concurred with the Board's findings. I understand that his next review is scheduled to take place in May 2008 and it will be determined at that stage whether a pre-release course is appropriate in this case.