Changes In Early Release Opposed By Rights' Group

Popular support for changing the laws regulating Ulster's controversial 50% remission scheme for dangerous sex offenders and violent prisoners has cut little ice with a rights' group.

The boss of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has voiced "serious concerns" over planned legislation to replace the laws that currently free prisoners early.

Chief Commissioner Monica McWilliams said the government has "failed to provide sufficient evidence" to support the introduction of indeterminate sentencing — which could see the province's most dangerous offenders kept behind bars until they no longer pose a threat.

She added that the new scheme, included in the draft Criminal Justice Order 2007, would put pressure on the Prison Service and have a "psychological impact" on inmates.

"The Human Rights Commission remains seriously concerned over the introduction of indeterminate sentencing, given that the proposed legislation appears to be punishing prisoners for what they might do as well as what they have already done.

"Serious thought needs to be given to the possible psychological impact on prisoners who are in state custody for an indeterminate period," she said.

The Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) is also concerned about the law.

Olwen Lyner of NIACRO said it was "difficult to accept" that people could be held in prison "for offences that they may commit, as opposed to those that they have committed".

However, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Assemblyman Alban Maginness, said that while committee members had listened to the concerns, they were "not supportive of the views expressed."

He added: "In broad terms the committee endorsed the changes in relation to indeterminate sentencing for dangerous sex offenders and violent offenders."

The government agreed to abolish automatic 50% remission in favour of public protection sentences, similar to those in England and Wales.

This happened after 35,000 people signed up to a campaign run by the Belfast Telegraph's, called Justice For Attracta campaign, which was launched following the murder of Strabane pensioner Attracta Harron.

She was brutally murdered by violent rapist-turned-killer Trevor Hamilton after his jail release having served half of a seven year sentence for a horrific rape.

(BMcC)