Crime fears delayed inmate amnesty
Wednesday December 30 2009
An amnesty for prisoners to mark the visit of Pope John Paul II was put back over fears of a burglary blitz on the country's empty homes, Government files have revealed.
Previously classified documents - now released into the National Archives - also show the historic 1979 trip was nearly scuppered over a lack of preparations by the Government.
Dozens of jail inmates were freed early as part of the three-day celebrations 30 years ago, while behind the scenes Cabinet ministers fretted about its potential for a crime spree.
Confidential files from the Taoiseach's office show moves to have the proposal referred to ministers charged with national security.
In a hand-written memo to then Taoiseach Jack Lynch, one top official warned against the Department of Justice plan overall but was particularly worried about freeing prisoners on September 29 - the first day of the Papal visit.
"It would be risky to give the amnesty on the first day of the visit because of the threat to Dublin's empty homes!" he cautioned.
The fears were incorporated into a policy memo circulated to all the Government ministers by then Justice Minister Gerry Collins.
It stated "it would be unwise to take the risk" of letting convicts out on a day when houses would be "virtually empty." The following day, a Sunday, was also ruled out because it there would be staffing and transport problems.
In the end, some 78 prisoners - deemed unlikely to be dangerous to the public and who were due for release by the end of the year - were freed on October 1, as the Pope left Ireland.
Around a third of Ireland's population turned out to see the Pontiff during his visit - including 1.25 million people at Dublin's Phoenix Park.
