We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
SINCE 1996, 64 prisoners have escaped from custody and have not been recaptured according to the Department of Justice.
Minister Alan Shatter made the admission to the Dáil last week after a question from Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan.
The minister said that of the 64 prisoners at large, 60 of those had escaped from low security open centres, two escaped from closed prisons and another two escaped from the custody of prison officers outside the confines of a prison.
Prisoners in Ireland are the responsibility of the Irish Prison Service but, when they abscond, the Garda Síochána are informed and they then have the power to detain, arrest, and return such persons to prison.
The minister told deputies last week that the “vast majority of offenders who abscond return voluntarily or are returned to custody”. This usually occurs within a short time frame, he added.
Shatter also said that the Irish Prison Service set up a project team in 2012 to look at ways of reducing the number of prisoners at large:
The project team has worked closely with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Social Protection and its work has led to the re-committal of a number of prisoners who had absconded from custody. This project is ongoing.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This headline is very misleading. There is a difference between “escape” and “abscond”. You abscond from an open centre as there is no locked gate to keep you there. If the headline was to be accurate it would state that 4 prisoners escaped from custody since 1996. That’s a pretty low number.
What is an ‘open centre’?
Think of a donut
Haha coffee spit moment!
Shelton Abby is one, also the training centre close to mountjoy. They are minimum security prisons with virtually no mean of stopping the prisoner from walking out of the prison. But the reason they stay is because it’s such a cushy place. If they try and run it’s back to a shite hole like mountjoy. Some prisoners actually look to transfer out from there shortly after arriving as they dont like the temptation. Also, most of those who “escape” are on temporary release (TR) and just don’t bother signing on at the Garda station. After that they are known as “unlawfully at large ” or UAL. I would suspect that the vast majority of those 64 are UAL due to not signing on at the Garda station or the prison itself. As for activity looking for them, that just doesn’t happen. Their file and details are passed to the gardai but 9 times outa 10 they are caught because they were involved in something else while UAL.
It’s a center we’re you escape with ease
Yeah. They call them ‘Open Prisons’ in the UK – for low tarrif prisons: People who haven’t committed serious crimes.
The real deterent, to escape, is full incarceration in a closed prison and/or an extended term.
Shelton Abbey and Loughlan House are open prisons. They are ment for low risk prisoners.
I once spent a day working in Shelton Abbey and I was talking to the staff about how easy it is to walk out of the place and they said that its more common to have extra prisoners in the place than escapes due to guys coming back from temporary releases early
The Irish Shawshank Redemption…
They are probably building currachs with Red of the kerry coast…
Not a bad record. 94% of escapees from open centres.
One reason is our small country. Its a lot easier to vanish in the UK, Europe and USA.
The difficulty is getting to these places. Photo-id is everywhere…
64 in nearly 30 years – nothing.
Why would anyone want to escape from an Irish prison? Sure they only have to ask to be let go.
Open prisons remain expensive – with accommodation, food, staffing, heating etc.
Electronic tagging is the answer; the ‘prisoner’ can be monitored (and kept) at home.
Although set-up here, there’s little usage by the courts/authorities.
Yet again… It is proven… That our nation needs help.
There is no shame in asking for help.
Help in what Marlon?
have your say