Six prisoners ‘released immediately’ after errors in sentences discovered

One hundred and two prisoners had their sentences extended and 29 had their release date brought forward. Picture: Irish Times

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has ordered an independent investigation after six prisoners had to be “released immediately” from custody after errors in calculating their sentences were discovered.

Following an incident in late 2020 when a prisoner was recaptured having been released early in error, a review of 4,000 cases was undertaken and in 131 cases errors were discovered.