Garda silent on report’s finding
The investigation was set up by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern after it emerged criminal Martin McDonagh, 24, was supposed to be locked up when he attacked 59-year-old Noel Keegan in Longford town.
The investigation, conducted by Inspector of Prisons Judge Michael Reilly, found that McDonagh was at large due to a “litany of flawed systems” in the courts, prisons, gardaí and probation.
McDonagh, from Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, assaulted the father-of-five on New Year’s Eve 2009, after being granted temporary release from Castlerea Prison, where he was serving a two-year sentence for assault.
The report found that McDonagh should never have been granted temporary release as he was supposed to be also serving four years for a separate assault.
In what the report said was the “major failure”, the warrant informing Castlerea Prison of this sentence was never sent by officials in Longford Court Office.
The report also highlighted serious failings by gardaí:
* Longford Garda Station was informed by Castlerea Prison by letter on December 17, 2009, that McDonagh was unlawfully at large and most gardaí were briefed.
* McDonagh was arrested by Longford gardaí on suspicion of criminal damage on December 27, but was released on bail.
Judge Reilly said more than 25 gardaí in Longford “knew or should have known” McDonagh was unlawfully at large between December 17 and the assault.
It is not yet known whether the Keegan family intend to sue the state for damages.
