Judge attacks system as prisoner freed two days into sentence

A JUDGE yesterday hit out at the system which allowed the temporary release of a serial Limerick criminal two days into a 10-month sentence due to overcrowding at Limerick prison.

Judge Tom O’Donnell, at Limerick District Court said the decision to release Paul Foran – who has 96 previous convictions – on March 9 after getting concurrent sentences on March 7 did not instil confidence in the system.

“It is a very important matter for me that the citizens of Limerick need to be protected against Mr Foran’s crimes and it does not help if the situation is he is on temporary release after two days.”