John Shaw, aged 73 and Ireland's longest-serving prisoner, brought an appeal before the Court of Appeal challenging the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant him two days of temporary release annually. Shaw has been in custody since September 1976 following his conviction at the Central Criminal Court in February 1978 for offences including abduction, rape, torture and murder. The Parole Board had recommended limited escorted outings, a recommendation the Minister declined without providing written reasons. Shaw's counsel argued the Minister's discretion was exercised arbitrarily and that Shaw had no clarity on what might satisfy the Minister's requirements. The Director of Public Prosecutions' representative contended the refusal was grounded in a dynamic risk assessment determining Shaw posed a high risk of reoffending. The three-judge panel reserved judgement. Shaw was not present during the hearing at the Court of Appeal.
Source links
Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.
Public source leads
- Longest-serving prisoner who raped and murdered two women seeks two days release a year - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Mon, 04 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT
- Ireland’s longest serving prisoner to appeal failed High Court bid for limited release - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:00:00 GMT
- State’s longest-serving prisoner in fresh bid to secure temporary release - The Irish Times The Irish Times · Tue, 04 Jan 2022 08:00:00 GMT
- When life means life: 'God help me. The devil made me do it' - The Journal The Journal · Sun, 17 Jan 2016 08:00:00 GMT
- The late summer murders: Two men on a mission to kill Irish women - The Irish Times The Irish Times · Sat, 19 Feb 2022 08:00:00 GMT
- A lifetime behind bars - the killers who are our longest-serving prisoners - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Sun, 25 Mar 2018 07:00:00 GMT
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John 1 NIV - The Word Became Flesh - In the - Bible Gateway
biblegateway.com
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was...
- Fresh prosecution plot on killer John Shaw amid DNA twist & 'time running out' alert… justice hopes for victim's family - The Irish Sun The Irish Sun · Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT
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