Refusing prison transfer leads to release for some criminals

SOME PRISONERS who refuse transfers from high security jails to complete their sentences in the more relaxed surroundings of open prisons are being released early just weeks later because of overcrowding.

Informed prison sources have told The Irish Times that some prisoners with many months still to run on their sentences have declined being moved to Loughan House open prison in Co Cavan or Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow, only to be released early just weeks later.

While their releases are officially classified as “temporary releases”, these are repeatedly renewed until the period they had left to serve has expired. Sources stressed “the vast majority” of prisoners who decline moves to the two open prisons do so because they are remote and make family visits more difficult.

However, the same sources said prisoners also know overcrowding in high security jails is so acute that if they have been deemed suitable for a transfer to an open prison and decline it, they may be set free shortly after.

The situation has arisen because some of the criteria for transfer to an open prison are the same as for temporary release. To be eligible for either, prisoners must represent a low risk to public safety and of reoffending.

The Irish Prison Service said it had no comment on the matter.

However, occupancy rates at the State’s jails support the claims of the sources who told The Irish Times some prisoners are being freed early after declining transfers. Some 950 prisoners are out on temporary release, while around 4,300 are serving sentences in jail.

This weekend, occupancy rates spiked compared to recent months, yet there was still space for an additional 64 prisoners. There were 117 prisoners in Loughan House, which has the capacity for 160. In Shelton Abbey this weekend there were 89 prisoners, in a capacity for 110.

Based on recent occupancy rates as low as 50 per cent, there would be space for 135 extra prisoners at those centres, at a time when overcrowding elsewhere has pushed temporary releases to 950.

Loughan House was in the news in recent weeks after prisoner Martin McDermott, jailed for killing a garda, escaped, prompting an inquiry into why he had been transferred there.