Minister defends representations on behalf of prisoners

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea has defended making representations on behalf of prisoners saying he merely sought to lighten travel demands on their ailing parents.

Information released through the Department of Justice revealed the minister had forwarded requests for special treatment for criminals. These 29 cases involved crimes of rape, attempted murder and drug-dealing. However, a statement from the minister said most cases arose during his work as junior minister in the Department of Justice and the bulk of remaining requests related to elderly constituents struggling to visit their children.

“A great majority were sent on behalf of elderly or ill parents seeking transfers for their children to Limerick Prison from prisons in Dublin or Cork so they could visit them,” he said. In July, Mr O’Dea called for an outright ban on politicians making such representations after it emerged 37 of his colleagues had lobbied in this area.