Call for ban on TDs interceding for prisoners

AN ADVOCACY group for the families of murder victims has called for a ban on TDs making representations on behalf of prisoners.

The call came after it emerged Minister of State John Moloney had written to the prison service requesting a transfer for convicted murderer Raymond Ryan from Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin so that he could avail of training facilities there. Ryan had been repatriated from Britain to Castlerea after being convicted of the murder of businessman Mario Commatteo in London in 2000.

His request for transfer to Mountjoy was ultimately refused.

Nine other TDs also contacted the Irish Prison Service to intercede on behalf of prisoners so far this year.

Joan Deane, spokeswoman for AdVIC, an advocacy group for the families of victims of homicide, said the Ministers’ actions were unacceptable.

“AdVIC has been commenting on this practice since 2007 and it is incredible to think it is still happening in 2010,” she said.

“We know politicians will say they are merely doing their constituency duty, but this goes beyond what is acceptable.”

She said the prison service was “extremely efficient and well run” and families could communicate with it in relation to prisoners.