Nearly 130 prisoners failed to return to jail last year, figures show

Eva Osborne

Nearly 130 prisoners, many of whom were out on temporary release, failed to return to jail last year.

Figures obtained by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín reveal 702 prisoners were unlawfully at large in 2024, with 126 still at large by the end of the year.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan told Deputy Tóibín that "the vast majority of prisoners are recorded as 'unlawfully at large' for technical breaches, whereby they do not return to the prison on their designated date to sign-on".

However, Deputy Tóibín said the minister is not being transparent enough.

Speaking on Newstalk, Tóibín said: "The minister has been sketchy, I think, in terms of this information.

"He states that many of these would have been prisoners that were under temporary release and who have just not returned to the prison. And he states that some of them may have returned within a number of days, but this is simply not good enough.

"You know, we don't have the details in relation to exactly how these prisoners are evading incarceration."