Early jail release pleas – Politicians must accept the blame

IT IS offensive in the extreme that politicians should seek to override the decisions of the courts by seeking the early release of convicted criminals.

With skeletons lurking in the cupboards of most parties, the spin doctors will explain away this practice by attributing it to Ireland’s age-old custom of clientelism whereby constituents are expected to repay political favours by voting for their benefactors.

Scandal has erupted around two Clare TDs, Junior Minister Tony Killeen of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s Deputy Pat Breen, following representations to Justice Minister Michael McDowell on behalf of convicted paedophile 74-year-old Michael Nugent.

While some may disclaim responsibility, as indeed Mr Killeen has done, by saying they were unaware such pleas for leniency went out from their office, the inescapable public perception is that politicians are trying to evade responsibility by blaming faceless civil servants.

This enables them to disown representations made for those found guilty of even the most heinous crimes. That is utterly unacceptable. In any other walk of life, heads would roll.