Almost one hundred and thirty prisoners, many of whom were out on temporary release, failed to return to jail last year.
Figures obtained by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín reveal 702 prisoners were unlawfully at large in 2024, with 126 still at large by the end of the year.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan told Deputy Tóibín ‘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’.
However, Deputy Tóibín says the minister is not being transparent enough…
