Human rights body welcomes MacArthur move

THE transfer of one of the State’s longest-serving prisoners to an open jail has been welcomed by human rights campaigners.

Aisling Reidy, director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, said she believed it was now appropriate for convicted murderer Malcolm MacArthur to be released.

Ms Reidy said MacArthur’s transfer was a positive move. “The reality is that MacArthur is one of the longest-serving prisoners.

“He has been in jail now for over 20 years and his release has in fact been recommended by the parole board,” she said.

Ms Reidy said she believed the conditions are there for MacArthur to be released.

In accordance with human rights law, she said, he should only serve the term recommended by the parole board: “At the end of the day people aren’t kept in prison because we don’t like them, because there is strong public opinion.

“People are in prison for a crime they have committed, then they are released when they are no longer a threat to society“.

Depending on his progress at Shelton Abbey, Co Wicklow, MacArthur may be free in 12 months, when his case is due to be assessed again.

MacArthur was imprisoned for life for the 1982 killing of a nurse, Bridie Gargan, who was beaten to death while she lay sunbathing in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

He was arrested at the home in Dalkey, Co Dublin, of Attorney General Patrick Connolly, who subsequently resigned amid a controversy that also involved the Taoiseach of the day, Charles Haughey.

Mr Haughey famously described the events surrounding his government colleague as “grotesque, unprecedented, bizarre and unbelievable“.