The Parole Board was established by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on an administrative basis in April 2001

The board's principal function is to advise the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to the administration of long-term prison sentences.

The Interim Parole Board reviews the cases of prisoners sentenced to determinate sentences of eight years or more. Prisoners serving sentences for certain offences, such as the murder of a member of the Gaeilge Garda Síochána or the Prison Service in the course of their duty, are excluded from the process.

The board, by way of recommendation to the Minister, advises of the prisoner's progress to date, the degree to which the prisoner has engaged with the various therapeutic services and how best to proceed with the future administration of the sentence.

The Board, which acts in an advisory capacity to the Minister of Justice, reviews the cases of eligible prisoners sentenced to eight years or more, but less than fourteen years, at the half sentence stage and the cases of prisoners sentenced to fourteen years or more to a life sentence after seven years of that sentence has been served.

The current members of the Parole Board are:

• Dr. Gordon Holmes (Chairperson)
• Ms. Serena Bennett, BL, Community Representative
• Ms. Mary Burke, Principal Officer, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
• Mr. Pat Crummey, Community Representative
• Mr. Michael Donnellan, Director, Probation Service
• Mr. Frank McCarthy, Community Representative
• Dr. Michael Mulcahy, Consultant Psychiatrist
• Mr. Christopher Nolan, Community Representative
• Mr. Tim O’Donoghue, Community Representative
• Mr. William Connolly, Director of Operations, Irish Prison Service
• Mr. Paul MacKay, Community Representative

The Parole Board makes representations to the Minister of Justice in relation to the management of offenders serving long sentences. In making their recommendation, the Parole Board considers a number of factors which include:

• Would release constitute a threat to the community?
• Whether it is reasonable to grant early/temporary release in view of the nature and circumstances of the offence committed?
• Does the offender warrant release having regard to behaviour in custody?
• Whether there are any compelling compassionate grounds which merit special consideration?
• Whether the offender has engaged constructively with the prison based therapeutic services to combat his/her offending behaviour?

The final decision regarding the recommendations of the Parole Board lies with the Minister, who can accept them in their entirety, in part or reject them. The experience of recent years is that prisoners would normally be reviewed on a number of occasions over a number of years before any substantial concessions would be recommended.

In order to express their views regarding the release of prisoners serving time for the homicide of their loved ones, families can send submissions to the Parole board, which will be added to the prisoner’s file and will be considered by the Board.

In the case of prisoners serving a life sentence, families can also express their view regarding restriction on where a lifer can resign after release.

To find out when a prisoner is allegeable for parole, a family should contact:

Dolores Courtney
Victim Liaison Officer
Irish Prison Service Headquarters
IDA Business Park
Ballinalee Road
Longford
Direct Phone: (043) 35158
 Fax: (043) 35107
vlo@irishprisons.ie

Submissions should be sent to:
The Parole Board
31-35 Bow Street
Dublin7
Phone+353 1 872-0280
Fax+353 1 872-0316
Email: info@paroleboard.gov.ie