Almost 130 prisoners in Ireland failed to return to jail last year after temporary release

Almost 130 inmates, many of whom had been granted temporary release, did not return to prison last year, reports Breaking News.

Data obtained by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín shows that 702 prisoners were listed as unlawfully at large in 2024, with 126 still missing by year’s end.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan informed Deputy Tóibín that “the vast majority of prisoners are recorded as ‘unlawfully at large’ for technical breaches, whereby they do not return to the prison on their designated date to sign-on”, reports Breaking News.

But Deputy Tóibín argued that the minister is failing to provide full clarity.

Speaking on Newstalk, Tóibín said: “The minister has been sketchy, I think, in terms of this information. He states that many of these would have been prisoners that were under temporary release and who have just not returned to the prison. And he states that some of them may have returned within a number of days, but this is simply not good enough. You know, we don’t have the details in relation to exactly how these prisoners are evading incarceration,” reports Breaking News.

Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.

Share this story

Tell us what you think on our Facebook page