Fifth of criminal gang associates due for prison release this year

Figures published by the Justice Minister Helen McEntee show 39 inmates of the 183 prisoners in custody who are associated with known criminal gangs are set for release this year.

The figures are estimates as it is difficult to provide definitive figures on the known number of members of criminal gangs, Justice Minister Helen McEntee explained. File photo

More than one-in-five of all members of the country’s leading criminal gangs who are currently serving jail sentences are due for release from prison this year.

Figures published by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, show that 39 inmates out of 183 prisoners in custody who are associated with known criminal gangs are expected to be let out of jail before the end of 2021.