Judge attacks system of short release

ONE of the country’s most outspoken district court judges has accused prison authorities of having no regard for the victims of crime when they let prisoners out on temporary release after just a few weeks behind bars.

Judge Michael Pattwell said victims of crime were “having their rights vindicated by the courts and three weeks later they see those responsible walking down the street”.

“It is very unfair to the law-abiding citizen. Have the prison authorities no regard for the victims?”