Courts / Sligo / Report

Second murderer brings action over new parole board system

Date
2022-06-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Carney

County
Sligo

Summary

Stephen Carney, serving a life sentence for the 2007 murder of his girlfriend Amanda Jenkins, has filed a judicial review against the Minister for Justice. He argues that the 2021 introduction of a new statutory Parole Board has disrupted the administrative processes that previously governed his rehabilitation plan. Under the former system, Carney had successfully progressed through stages of a release programme, including temporary release for training, and was expected to move to the next stage in January 2024. The Minister's response directed him to engage with the new board, which Carney claims will not review his case until at least the third quarter of 2023. He seeks orders compelling the Minister to decide on his application, declarations that the Minister is acting unlawfully, and an order quashing the alleged refusal. The case was adjourned to October after Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission to proceed.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Second murderer brings action over new parole board system. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 5 Hearing Or Sentence
October 7 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-06-27 Publication

Why: It is claimed that, because of the establishment of the new board, the Minister has abandoned the administrative processes undertaken by boards that had operated under the former non-statutory system. CNI source report

Case subjects

Parole Board

Applicant

Outcome: parole board system man has been brought by a man serving a life sentence for the murder of his girlfriend. Under that regime, the board reviewed applications from prisoners serving lengthy sentences after being advised by the Minister for Justice who should be considered for temporary release.; The matter was adjourned to a date in October.