Temporary release is granted to low risk offenders for Communions and Confirmations unless there is an ‘absolutely pressing reason against it’, the Irish Prison Service has said.
The former governor of Ireland’s only female prison, Kathleen McMahon yesterday claimed the Prison Service had countermanded her philosophy on certain issues, such as the temporary release of low risk prisoners for religious occasions.
Rejecting her assertions, IPS director general Brian Purcell said every effort was made to facilitate prisoner’s requests regarding temporary release for Communions and Confirmations.
He also said he was not aware of any cases whereby high risk offenders have been released against the recommendation of the governor.
“There was a case of an inmate who received a four year sentence for swindling and intimidating an 85-year-old pensioner out of his life savings," he said. "Five months after she came into custody strong recommendations were received from the Dóchas Centre including the governor to release her that she should not be in custody. I totally disagreed with this and this is an example of Governor McMahon’s advice not being taken."
Ms McMahon said she resigned because of the “serious undermining” of her position and an “overall lack of respect by senior personnel in the Irish Prison Service,” adding that she had been excluded from a recent decision to put bunk beds into rooms designed for one prisoner.
However, speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Purcell said she would have been present at a number of contingency planning meetings where the issue to deal with increased numbers in the system and the issue of having to put bunk beds in to keep prisoners in the system that we perceived would be a threat to public safety were discussed.
“She was consulted and her views taken into consideration,” he said.
Mr Purcell categorically rejected that it was inappropriate for a senior official of the Irish Prison Service to visit any prison unannounced.
“The senior official in question is a serving governor with 35 years experience and is well used to all the issues that are involved…Announced and unannounced visits are part and parcel of the oversight role and I make no apologies for this”.