Investigation launched as Limerick Prison inmate is freed due to an ‘error’
‘An incident occurred where a prisoner was released in error from court’
A MAN charged in connection with a €4.2m cannabis haul, who was remanded in Limerick Prison by a judge, was released from custody “in error”, Limerick Live has learned.
In June, James Lawlor, aged 40, of Killininny House, Firhouse, Dublin 24 was refused bail by Judge Adrian Harris at Ennis District Court following an application.
The accused man is charged with having cannabis at the N19, Smithstown, Shannon on May 26 for the purpose of sale or supply contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. When the charge was put to Mr Lawlor by gardai, he replied “guilty as charged”.
Mr Lawlor is also charged with possession of cannabis at the same location on the same date contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.
The Dublin man was remanded in custody by Judge Harris and he was conveyed to Limerick Prison to await further court proceedings.
Last Wednesday, September 2, Mr Lawlor was brought back before Ennis District Court by prison officers.
The exact circumstances of what occurred in court is not known but Mr Lawlor was allowed to walk freely out of the courthouse despite being in the custody of the State at the time.
Following a media query from the Limerick Leader, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said they do not comment on individual prisoner cases.
However, the spokesperson did confirm that “an incident occurred where a prisoner was released in error from court and subsequently returned to prison custody on Friday, September 4”.
It is believed that Mr Lawlor handed himself back to prison authorities of his own volition and is now back in the care of Limerick Prison. An Irish Prison Service spokesperson said: “The circumstances of the release are being investigated to mitigate against such an incident from occurring again.”
Limerick Prison was also in the headlines last month after Alison Chawke, a daughter of well-known Limerick publican Charlie Chawke, was released from prison just four weeks into a 12-month sentence.
A senior counsel and retired Professor of Law said at the time: “It does seem strange.”