Murderer Malcolm Macarthur is to be released from prison for a short period on Christmas Day so that he can spend time with family members, it has emerged.
The killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe are not among the 230 inmates being released over the Christmas and New Year period. They are currently being held at Castlerea Prison, Co Roscommon.
Macarthur is being released for a number of hours and will return to prison in Shelton Abbey, Co Wicklow, on Christmas night.
It is his second period of temporary release.
He was freed for a short period on Christmas Day last year. It is understood he plans to spend his period of release with family in the Dún Laoghaire area.
The decision to release him was taken yesterday by Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea. Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell cannot have any involvement in Macarthur's case because he was the junior counsel in his defence.
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.
The DPP decided not to prosecute him for this murder because he had pleaded guilty to the murder of Ms Gargan.
The Dunne family said in recent years they believe Macarthur still poses a threat to themselves and society.
Macarthur was moved to Shelton Abbey 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.
The Department of Justice has said the number of Christmas releases this year, 230, represented 7 per cent of the prisoner population, and was a significant reduction on the 280 prisoners released last year.
It 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 the local Garda station.