Prisoners with life sentences apply for parole after 7 years with “little or no therapeutic work” done

Life sentence prisoners applying for parole after seven years have often done “little or no therapeutic work”, the head of the Parole Board has said.

John Costello said that many of those prisoners have “serious psychological/mental health issues” and said, “at a minimum”, their psychological needs should be assessed in their first year in prison.

Under Irish law, so-called lifers can apply for parole after seven years have passed. All murderers are automatically sentenced to life.