McDowell backs hardline parole plan for murderers

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has come out in favour of a more hardline approach on the granting of early remission to prisoners convicted of murder and other serious crimes.

Mr McDowell stressed that any perception among the public that life sentences meant that criminals spent only 10 years or less in jail must be corrected.

The Dublin South-East TD said mandatory life sentences for murder were part of Irish law “for good reason”.