Drug offenders and thieves most likely to get temporary release

In one instance, a man sent to jail for between three and six months on January 26 was already on temporary release five days later.

In some cases, convicted criminals were released just days or weeks after being committed to prison, according to a detailed breakdown from the Irish Prison Service that was released under FOI. File image

Prisoners serving time for drugs offences and theft are most likely to be granted temporary release with some people released within weeks of being sent to jail.

A detailed breakdown from the Irish Prison Service reveals that of the 280 people on temporary release at the end of last month, 73 were in jail for “controlled drug offences” while 52 had been imprisoned for “theft and related offences”.