Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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537. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has taken any further action in relation to a situation (details supplied) where a victim of a crime has not been given the release date of the convicted person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36845/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The case referred to by the Deputy relates to an individual convicted for attempted murder, who has served the sentence handed down for that crime, but is now being separately detained, for a concurrent, but longer period of detention in the Central Mental Hospital on foot of an unrelated criminal offence.

This means that while the victim in the attempted murder case was entitled to be informed of the release date of the perpetrator in relation to that criminal conviction, that right is essentially moot. This is because the perpetrator was not released at the end of that sentence but will remain in the Central Mental Hospital for a longer period as a result of the concurrent, but longer period of detention for the unrelated offence.

Given the unique and complex nature of this case, senior officials from my Department met with the victim to discuss the particular circumstances of their case.

On foot of that meeting, my officials have committed to examining how we can ensure that a person’s right to information about the release date would continue to operate where the actual date of release from detention is deferred due a separate detention in the Central Mental Hospital on an unrelated matter. This examination will include looking at whether amending legislation is required, as I am committed to ensuring that legislation meets victims’ needs.