A MAN from Tralee, Co Kerry, serving life imprisonment in an English jail, yesterday became the second IRA prisoner within a week to be granted a High Court warrant for his transfer to Portlaoise prison.
Brendan Dowd (49) has served 20 years for three counts of attempted murder and is currently in Whitemoor prison in Cambridgeshire. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on May 11th, 1976.
Last Friday, the High Court issued a warrant for the transfer to Portlaoise from Maghaberry prison in the North of Patrick Kelly, the IRA prisoner suffering from cancer.
It is believed 70 prisoners, mostly in English or Northern Irish jails, about 20 of whom are said to be IRA members, have applied for transfer to the Republic. About 30 prisoners in jails in the Republic, mostly English nationals, have applied for transfers out of the State.
Mr Tom O'Connell, counsel for the State, instructed by Mr Charles Moran, of the Chief State Solicitor's Office, made the application under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, 1995.
Mr O'Connell said Dowd satisfied all the criteria for his transfer, being an Irish national and serving a sentence which was a final sentence. The British Home Secretary and the Minister for Justice consented to the transfer.