Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
372. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she can confirm whether a victim of a serious assault is entitled to be made aware of the release date of her attacker, where that attacker has been held in a mental health facility after the conviction as in a case (details supplied). [20427/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the person mentioned in the details supplied recently met with senior officials from my Department to discuss the particular circumstances of this case.
As the Deputy will be aware, this is a very unusual case in that the individual convicted for the attempted murder of the person referred to in the Question has served the sentence handed down for that crime, but is separately detained, for a concurrent but longer period of detention, in the Central Mental Hospital on foot of an unrelated criminal offence. This means that the person who was the victim is entitled to be informed of the release date in relation to the criminal conviction, but that right is moot in this instance, as the perpetrator will not be released on that date, but instead will remain in the Central Mental Hospital for a longer period of time.
Following the meeting, my officials have committed to examining how we can ensure that a person’s right to information about the release date would continue to operate where the actual date of release from detention is deferred due a separate detention in the CMH on an unrelated matter, including whether amending legislation might be required.
