Shutterstock / Semen Lixodeev Shutterstock / Semen Lixodeev / Semen Lixodeev

THE IRISH PRISON Service (IPS) has announced that 142 prisoners will be granted temporary release over Christmas.

This figure represents about 4% of the overall prisoner population. The numbers of prisoners released for Christmas in previous years were as follows:

• 2016: 177
• 2015: 203
• 2015: 242

A spokesperson for the IPS said: “Many of the prisoners being released are nearing the end of their sentences and the overriding concern when considering the applications is the safety of the public.

In addition to compassionate and humane considerations, other criteria taken into account include the nature and gravity of the offence, length of sentence served to date, prior record on temporary release, behaviour while in custody and previous criminal history.

The periods of release range from one to seven nights.

“All releases are subject to stringent conditions and any offender who breaks these conditions may be arrested and returned immediately to prison by the gardaí,” the spokesperson said.

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