asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many prisoners have not returned to jail in Northern Ireland following compassionate leave in each year since 2000. [HL2815]
The number of prisoners who failed to return is shown in the following table.
Year Number of Prisoners who failed to return to prison following a period of Compassionate Temporary Release 2001 0 2002 9 2003 5 2004 7 2005 2 2006 3 2007 to present 1
The statistics requested were not collated in the format required prior to 2001.
Of the above, one prisoner remains unlawfully at large, 14 were returned to prison by the PSNI, 11 returned of their own accord and one prisoner died while still unlawfully at large.