Tough new British rules pursuing the deportation of foreign prisoners will no longer apply to Irish nationals save in "exceptional circumstances", the Home Office has announced.
Following the major controversy last year over the non-deportation of more than 1,000 foreign national prisoners at the end of their sentences that led to the resignation of then home secretary Charles Clarke, the British government introduced strict new policy guidelines under which all foreign nationals sentenced to two or more years in prison are automatically considered for deportation.
This included Irish prisoners for the first time, leading to representations by a number of MPs and by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, who urged Mr Clarke's successor, John Reid, to have particular regard to the Common Travel Area and the close ties between the two countries.
In a statement updating MPs yesterday Lin Homer, director general of the immigration and nationality directorate, announ- ced that the Home Office had done so in reviewing its approach in this area.
In future, she told members of the Commons Home Affairs committee select committee, "Irish citizens will only be considered for deportation where a court has recommended deportation in sentencing or where the secretary of state concludes, due to the exceptional circumstances of the case, the public interest requires deportation".
Ms Homer said that in reviewing their approach they had "taken into account the close historical, community and political ties between the United Kingdom and Ireland, along with the existence of the Common Travel Area".
And she confirmed that those prisoners whose cases are not considered exceptional, whose sentences have expired and who are currently in custodial detention awaiting deportation will now be released over the next week.
Ms Homer added that she had already asked that the necessary arrangements be put in place to ensure that these prisoners receive proper supervision on their release from the probation service.
Mr Ahern welcomed the Home Office's change of approach, declaring this "a very satis- factory result" following discussions between the two governments.
The announcement would come as a great relief to individual prisoners and their families, Mr Ahern said.
The Minister also paid tribute to the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) and its London office which had worked closely with his department to assist prisoners and their families while the issue was being resolved.
The ICPO, which had referred dozens of potential deportation cases to the Department of Foreign Affairs via the Irish Embassy in London, also welcomed yesterday's announcement.
However, a spokesman said they would be waiting to see if any cases were deemed "exceptional" by Dr Reid, while pressing to ensure that changes made in categorising some prisoners while subject to deportation proceedings would not now delay their release.