Flanagan: Parole Bill will ‘find balance’ between rights of victims and offenders

Mr Flanagan briefed practitioners on the provisions of the bill, proposed as a private member’s bill by Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson Jim O’Callaghan and accepted by the government.

The bill establishes the Parole Board as an independent statutory body, as long recommended by the Law Reform Commission.

Mr Flanagan told the conference that parole was a “sensitive issue” and handling it required the finding of “a balance between the rights and needs of victims, of offenders, indeed of society”.

Explaining the bill’s provisions, he said: “In respect of victims, the Parole Bill provides that where a review or hearing has been scheduled, the Board will give notice to a victim that such a review or hearing is pending, and will prepare and send the victim an explanation of the process and an account of how they may participate.

“The right to make submissions or give oral evidence to the board is also included as is a provision for legal representation.

“There are also provisions to protect the victim from further harm. An order if granted, may for example include that the offender not attend at or be in the vicinity of specified locations, or not communicate with specified persons, directly or indirectly.

“It may also ensure that the person subject to it not be permitted to travel outside the jurisdiction, and in considering an order, the Board may also seek information from anyone it considers may have an interest in the application, including the victim.”

He added: “The bill will give the independent Board responsibility for granting parole to eligible prisoners and it sets out the criteria to be considered in doing so – criteria which include risk to public safety and the extent to which release will facilitate the prisoner’s reintegration into society.

“The bill also sets out the terms for eligibility for consideration for parole, including a proposal to raise it for life sentence prisoners, to a minimum of 12 years served.

“This is a significant change from the existing administrative system, which considers life sentences for the first time after seven years.”

He also announced the reappointment of Shane McCarthy, Willie Connolly, Eddie Rock and Nora McGarry to the Board for a year.