Some 17 inmates due back at prison after temporary release over the Christmas period have failed to report at their places of detention on time, the Irish Prison Service has confirmed.
A total of 307 inmates were granted temporary release over Christmas. Most were released for periods of between three and four days. A smaller number are granted release for periods of up to 10 days each year.
The prison service last night said almost all of those granted release are due to complete their sentences in 2004. A small number will not complete their sentences until next year.
Of the 17 still unlawfully at large, two inmates are serving sentences of just three months. A spokesman for the prison service said when the inmates finally return to prison the period for which they have unlawfully been at large will be added onto their sentence.
"There's no question of them using this to somehow shorten their sentences," he said.
Usually a prisoner on temporary release is required to report on a regular basis to the local Garda station. Any prisoner who breaks the conditions may be arrested and returned to prison.
The Department of Justice does not generally grant temporary release to prisoners in the early stages of lengthy sentences. Some prisoners granted shorter release periods are required to be accompanied by a responsible person at all times.
Applications for Christmas release are considered on grounds of public safety. Compassionate and humane considerations as well as the nature and gravity of the offence; length of sentence served to date; prior record on temporary release, and previous criminal history are all taken into account.
Periods of temporary release are often afforded to inmates nearing the end of a long prison sentence in an effort to allow them to slowly reintegrate into society and get to know their families again outside the confines of visiting rooms.
In the past when prisoners have failed to report back to prison they have been given a few days grace to return. They would then be sought by gardaí. However, a small number would not be returned to prison until they re-offend.
