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22/06/2007
Dublin prison frees wrong inmate
An inquiry is underway after an armed robber was mistakenly set free from a prison in Dublin.
Mark Kenny, 35, an inmate at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison serving six years for armed robbery was freed three years before he was due to be released.
He had been mistaken for another prisoner of the same name.
Prison officers had discovered the error at 5:05pm on Thursday evening – 20 minutes after he had been released.
The Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Brian Purcell, ordered Mountjoy Governor John Lonergan to carry out an investigation.
“A prisoner of the name Mark Kenny was due to be granted temporary release from Mountjoy prison,” a Irish Prison Service spokesman said.
“However, in error, another prisoner of the same name was released.
“The Governor has been asked to complete his investigation as a matter of urgency.”
He continued: “On receipt of the Governor’s report, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service will fully brief the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Brian Lenihan, on the matter.”
Kenny, a heroin addict was jailed for three years for robbing three service stations within one hour along with offences.
He had also stabbed a young woman twice in the hand with the syringe when taking money from a Statoil service station at Castleknock Road in June 2001.
He pleaded guilty to a series of robbery and attempted robbery charges, theft of vehicles and possession of syringes on various dates between July 2000 and June 2001.
(JM)
Mark Kenny, 35, an inmate at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison serving six years for armed robbery was freed three years before he was due to be released.
He had been mistaken for another prisoner of the same name.
Prison officers had discovered the error at 5:05pm on Thursday evening – 20 minutes after he had been released.
The Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Brian Purcell, ordered Mountjoy Governor John Lonergan to carry out an investigation.
“A prisoner of the name Mark Kenny was due to be granted temporary release from Mountjoy prison,” a Irish Prison Service spokesman said.
“However, in error, another prisoner of the same name was released.
“The Governor has been asked to complete his investigation as a matter of urgency.”
He continued: “On receipt of the Governor’s report, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service will fully brief the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Brian Lenihan, on the matter.”
Kenny, a heroin addict was jailed for three years for robbing three service stations within one hour along with offences.
He had also stabbed a young woman twice in the hand with the syringe when taking money from a Statoil service station at Castleknock Road in June 2001.
He pleaded guilty to a series of robbery and attempted robbery charges, theft of vehicles and possession of syringes on various dates between July 2000 and June 2001.
(JM)
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