The case of a man who was charged in connection with a serious offence when he should have been in prison serving time is to be investigated by a senior judge.
The Department of Justice announced this evening that the Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, has been appointed to investigate what it said was "an issue of concern".
The Department said the man - who was recently arrested and charged in connection with a serious offence - was at liberty when he had been sentenced to a significant term of imprisonment in respect of a prior and separate conviction.
Judge Reilly was appointed following consultations between the Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern.
Details of the offences or the identity of the individual involved cannot be disclosed as it would risk prejudicing the man's forthcoming trial.
The judge has been asked to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the case "across all the agencies who dealt with the matter" in order to establish why the person in question was not in prison.
The report will be published as soon as the trial has been completed but any recommendations made will be brought into effect as soon as possible, the Department said.
