O’Hare on temporary release from jail

FORMER INLA leader Dessie O’Hare, who is serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and mutilating Dublin dentist John O’Grady in 1987, is on temporary release, it emerged last night.

The 48-year-old, known as the “Border Fox”, is due back in Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon on Sunday.

The granting of temporary freedom to O’Hare will heighten speculation his permanent release will come sooner rather than later.

O’Hare qualifies for permanent release under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), and is on a phased-release programme, although the date on which his sentence will be terminated has not yet been decided.

The next step in the process will be Christmas parole, which is likely to be granted, according to RTÉ, which broke the story last night. The Irish Prison Service refused to comment on individual cases.

O’Hare was denied holiday-season parole last year, although he had been granted temporary release earlier in 2003 to visit the Glencree Reconciliation Centre in Co Wicklow, where he attended classes on peace and conflict resolution.

The final decision as to when he will be released rests with Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

O’Hare chopped the tops off two of the dentist’s fingers when his demands for a ransom were not met.