Crime victims could sue the State for offences committed by prisoners on temporary release, a judge warned yesterday. Judge Gerard Haughton said the taxpayer, who already had to pay for crime through insurance premiums, would then have to pay again for compensation. He was speaking during the case of a 19 year old Dublin drug addict who carried out Is burglaries within weeks of being released early from prison. Patrick Dunne, of Greencastle Road, Coolock, was sentenced to 21 months last January and a further eight months in February.
Detective Garda Martin Griffin told Dublin District Court around £10,000 worth of property had been stolen and about £2,000 worth recovered. Judge Haughton said these victims should be told about the offender and added it was only a matter of time before the State is sued. He imposed a 22 month sentence and set a review date for July next year.