Courts / Limerick / Report
Grainne Dillon murderer challenges refusal to allow him visit sick mother
Summary
Paolo Nascimento, who murdered Grainne Dillon in 2002, is challenging the State's refusal to transfer him to Portugal to care for his ill mother. Nascimento, currently on parole, seeks an order from the High Court to quash the Parole Board's refusal to transfer his sentence. Portugal imposes a fixed 25-year sentence for murder, as opposed to Ireland's life sentence with potential for parole. The Parole Board has refused the transfer three times since 2006 due to Portugal's lack of post-release monitoring. Nascimento's legal team argues that the refusal violates his rights as an EU citizen and prevents him from reuniting with his family. The High Court granted leave to challenge the refusal and adjourned the matter to November. Nascimento's mother, his closest living relative, is too sick to travel to Ireland, and he seeks a declaration that the Parole Board unlawfully fettered its discretion. Paolo Nascimento pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Grainne Dillon murderer challenges refusal to allow him visit sick mother. Charges or matters: murder. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2002 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 5, 2027 Other
- January 2027 Other
- 2026-07-20 Publication
Why: The Parole Board here has refused to allow the transfer three times since 2006 because the Portuguese system does not allow for post-release monitoring. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: murder (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Nascimento was given a life sentence at the Central Criminal Court in 2003 after he pleaded guilty to the murder of Grainne (24) at the Jury's Inn Hotel, Steamboat Quay, Limerick in January 2002.; adjourned the matter to November
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- High Court
Topics
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