THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE has announced that it will offer 134 prisoners temporary release for Christmas, under the terms of the Criminal Justice Act 1960.

72 of the prisoners being released are serving their sentences in low security institutions, including the semi-open prison training unit on the North Circular Road, Loughan House in Co Cavan, and Shelton Abbey in Arklow.

The Department said that the majority of those being released were also nearing the end of their sentences, with the periods of release extending from a few hours to several weeks. Some short-term releases would be contingent on the prisoner being accompanied by another person, it added.

A statement from the Department said that its “overriding concern” when considering applications for Christmas release was public safety, and that applications were evaluated based on compassionate and humane grounds, as well as the gravity of the offence for which they were detained.

Other factors included the the length of the sentence served by an inmate to date, their behaviour on any previous releases, and their criminal history.

The number of prisoners being released is down from the amount released last year, when 176 were offered temporary release.

In 2008, 107 were given temporary release, while in 2007 138 were allowed home for Christmas.