About 230 prisoners are being temporarily released over the Christmas and new year period, the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has announced.
The Irish Times understands that a decision on whether Malcolm Macarthur will be released is to be made today.
It was unclear last night if the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe are to be released. Informed sources said they were not among a small group of prisoners whose release for the holidays from Castlerea Prison has been approved in recent days. However, a late decision might still result in them spending Christmas on release.
Macarthur (60) received a life sentence in 1982 for bludgeoning a nurse, Bridie Gargan, to death in the Phoenix Park that year. He was also charged with shooting a farmer, Donal Dunne, who had met him to sell a shotgun.
He is being held at Shelton Abbey prison in Co Wicklow. He was moved there in May 2004 following a parole board report recommending that he be moved to the open prison to test his suitability for eventual full release.
A statement from the Department of Justice last night said the 230 figure for releases this year represented 7 per cent of the prisoner population, and was a significant reduction on the 280 prisoners released last year.
The department said the prisoners being released were nearing the end of their sentences, and the overriding concern was the safety of the public.
Other factors taken into account were the nature and gravity of their offence, length of sentence served, prior record on temporary release, behaviour in custody and criminal history.
The periods of release vary from a few hours up to eight nights.
All releases are subject to conditions, which in most cases include a requirement to report to their local Garda station.