The Director of the Prison Service, Mr Sean Aylward said even with perfect hindsight and applying all the risk assessment approaches Thomas Murray’s profile would still not have been that of someone who would commit murder whilst on day release.
Mr Aylward’s comments are contained within the report into the Management ofthe Sentences of Thomas Murraywho murdered 81-year-old Ms Nancy Nolan in February, 2000, while on day release. The report was published by the Minister for Justice Mr O’Donoghue this evening.
The minister said the report illustrates some weaknesses in the system. He added all of the recommendations in the report will be implemented to improve procedures and risk assessment.
The report says the gardai, especially at local level were very much opposed to his release - which was the norm with people who are in the same situation as Murray.
"The prison administration, in endeavouring to give effect to the policy of reintegrating people where possible into the community, while taking on board the Garda views, must be prepared to take the risk of releasing persons about whose behaviour there must always be some doubt",author of the report Mr John Olden.
He added there will be a tightening up on procedures for managing life-sentenced prisoners and a general review of the release of prisoners who have committed violent crimes.
Day release programmes should continue, according to Mr Olden, because to ban them would seriously restrict the rehabilitation process.