Evaluating society by how it treats prisoners, irrespective of the crime they have committed

Eyebrows were raised when five TDs expressed ‘deep concern’ that jailed dissident republican Michael McKevitt was not allowed on extended temporary release last year — but the political intervention is not an isolated case, writes Michael Clifford

THERE was general surprise in early July when news broke that five TDs were making representations for jailed dissident IRA man Michael McKevitt.

The five had written twice to the justice minister expressing “deep concern” that McKevitt was not allowed on extended temporary release.