PRISONER AMNESTY:SOME 68 prisoners were released early from custody under an amnesty to mark the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979, according to State papers released by the National Archives.
But the prisoners were not released until the last day of the pope’s visit because of fears Dublin homes would be burgled.
A memo prepared for the Government by the Department of Justice on September 20th noted it was traditional to have a “gaol delivery” on important occasions and it had occurred to mark the canonisation of St Oliver Plunkett, in 1975 and the Holy Year of 1950.
But, according to the memo, then justice minister Gerry Collins proposed the releases should not take effect until the morning of Monday, October 1st, the last day of the pope’s three days in Ireland.
“It is considered that it would be unwise to take the risk of releasing a large number of offenders during the first day of the visit when Dublin’s dwelling houses will be virtually empty,” the memo said. “And releases on Sunday would pose staffing and transport problems.”
The 68 prisoners involved in the amnesty were all “well conducted and industrious”, the memo stated. They were given 5/12ths remission and gained from a few days to 12 weeks depending on the length of their sentences.
Prisoners recommended for exclusion from the amnesty were “subversives” in Portlaoise and Limerick prisons, those in military custody in the Curragh and boys in the “special school” in Loughan House in Cavan. And those serving one month or less or who were imprisoned for contempt of court or non-payment of fines could not be considered because they were not entitled to remission.
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