A PRISONER who was given early release to join family members in Australia broke his journey in Amsterdam and returned to Ireland, the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, said.
She was responding to the Fianna Fail spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue, who asked whether she had approved the release of a man who was alleged to have been involved earlier this month in an armed robbery in Waterford. He also asked if the Australian authorities had been told of his plans to go there.
Ms Owen said she was constrained about giving information due to criminal proceedings. However, she said the man had been serving a six year sentence and would have been due for release with normal remission in 1998. He applied for full temporary release to join his family in Sydney, Australia.
The release was authorised after the man obtained travel documents, including an air ticket purchased from money sent by his family. He was released on condition that he would travel to join them and reside there.
Prison staff accompanied him to the plane. The flight in question was to Amsterdam, with an onward flight to Sydney. In fact the man left the plane at Amsterdam
The condition of temporary release did not require that the Australian authorities be consulted or informed.