Call to rethink tougher parole plans

The head of the Parole Board has said draft legislation increasing the minimum length of time from seven to 12 years before which an inmate can be considered for release needs to be revisited.

Chairman John Costello said the current threshold “encourages” inmates to start, or to continue, with rehabilitation before reaching seven years in prison.

He said the board would submit amendments to the Parole Bill 2016 during its final stages in the Dáil.