Drug dealer released just four weeks into 18 month term due to prison overcrowding crisis
The Journal
has learned.
Multiple security and civil service sources have confirmed that a number of prisoners, including those suspected to be members of Organised Crime Groups, have been released.
Prison sources said that prisoners who have received sentences for non-violent offences, like cases associated with large drugs seizures, are being let out ahead of time.
The calculus used for the release of the prisoners is that they are not classified as a danger to society. The Department of Justice has claimed they are on 'temporary release' but the reality, according to multiple sources, is that these prisoners will remain free.
One of those prisoners is Stephanie Treacy from Limerick – she was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her part in a drug dealing operation in the city's St Mary's Park, which is known locally as The Island Field or Kings Island.
She served just four weeks of that two year sentence before being released by prison authorities – both Garda and Prison Service sources have confirmed that it was due to measures to limit overcrowding.
Stephanie Treacy and her brother Owen Treacy, who was identified in court by gardaí as being involved in organised crime in the city, were arrested after a lengthy garda operation.
Owen Treacy has 140 previous convictions for a variety of offences and is a member of a well known family in the city. He and his sister were caught after a long-term garda covert surveillance operation.
Gardaí told
a Limerick court in April
that the Treacys and some associates accessed the roofs of houses on St Munchin's Street between 18 July and 2 August, 2019. They were placing and removing objects under roof tiles – the gardaí confirmed this was where their drugs were located.
On 2 August, 2019, Gardaí executed search warrants on three properties at St Munchin's Street, as well as an address associated with the Treacys at St Ita's Street. There they seized more than €32,000 in cash and cheques, as well as more than 100 drug deals that were ready for distribution.
The Treacys were placing the drugs inside the plastic toy holders found in Kinder Eggs before selling them on.
Owen Treacy Junior has recently been convicted of a threat to kill a Limerick based garda.
He got a three month sentence for that which would run consecutive to his three-and-a-half years for the Kinder Egg drugs scheme with Stephanie.
Advertisement
Owen Treacy will serve his sentence but his sister is out and free and back in Limerick City, having served a fraction of what the judge in the circuit court deemed appropriate.
Stephanie had received a three year headline sentence, with the final 18 months suspended.
A view of Limerick city looking up the Shannon towards Kings Island.
Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Overcrowding
The Journal
has previously reported that record-high levels of overcrowding inside Ireland's prisons
are increasing the risk of violence
, seeing incarcerated people
sleeping on the floor
and creating a
difficult working environment for staff
.
There is now a real risk that the Irish Prison Service
will not be able to transport all prisoners for court hearings, as overcrowding is putting pressure on staff to meet their escort abilities.
Director General of the Irish Prison Service Caron McCaffrey warned the Department of Justice in a letter last year that the system is at 'tipping point' in respect of its ability to carry out escorts to court and maintain safe staffing standards inside its facilities.
Her letter told the Department: 'Current levels of overcrowding are exacerbated by resource constraints due to ever-increasing demands for escorts.'
We asked the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice for comment on the release of prisoners and the specific case of Stephanie Treacy.
The Irish Prison Service said they do not comment on individual cases.
The Department of Justice classified the freeing of prisoners as 'temporary release'.
'The Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.
'Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, officials in the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release.
'The legislative basis for temporary release is set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003.
'Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.'
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘I'm afraid for my children' – Hundreds attend anti-racism protest outside the Dáil following brutal attack in Tallaght
Hundreds gathered outside the Dáil today in solidarity against racist violence, following a brutal, unprovoked attack on an Indian national in Tallaght last week. Organised by members of Ireland's migrant community, the protest called attention to a growing sense of fear and vulnerability among immigrants, and demanded urgent action from the government. The victim, an Indian man in his 40s, had arrived in Ireland weeks before the incident, and was attacked at Parkhill Lawns in the Kilnamanagh area around 6pm on Saturday, July 19. Gardaí have confirmed they are currently investigating the assault. A vigil was also held in Tallaght last night, drawing significant support from the Indian community. Ajay Shaji, attending the protest as a member of Migrant Nurses Ireland, described the incident as "shocking" and deeply traumatic for the wider migrant community. 'The migrant community was under stress and really shocked at the news,' he said. 'I don't know how traumatic it must be for him. He was here for [just weeks] and had to go through something like that. There are no words to explain it.' Kavi Raj, an Indian national living in Tallaght, called the incident 'horrifying' and explained that attacks like this need to be addressed at government level. 'We live in Tallaght - we are afraid to walk outside,' he said. "Immigrants and Irish people can live side by side, hand in hand,' Kavi said. Shinith Ak, who has lived in Kilkenny since 2009, said the attack left him 'ashamed.' ADVERTISEMENT 'One of my family members was attacked, and when I told my hometown back in India, they said, 'Come back – you're not safe there.'' Rofayda Mohamed, a mother who also attended the protest, expressed her growing fear for her children. 'The hate is rising. I was horrified, shocked, actually - that this can happen on our streets' she said. 'I'm afraid for my children, to go out, to play. This is not acceptable.' Speaking at the protest, Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger called the attack 'repulsive'. 'These attacks are not isolated. They're under-reported and under-investigated,' she said. 'We keep hearing stories from the migrant community, from people of colour in Ireland, about attacks like this.' Ms Coppinger stressed the need for community-based, anti-racist networks and policies that address the root causes of social tension – including the housing crisis. Gardaí have appealed to the public not to share or repost social media footage related to the attack, as their investigation continues. Related topics Chloe McPolin
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man (40s) hospitalised following assault in Dublin city centre
Gardaí have confirmed that they are investigating an assault in Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1 in which a man in his forties suffered 'serious injuries.' The assault took place at around 10pm on Friday. The injured man was transferred by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital where he continues to receive treatment. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information relating to the assault is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda Station on 01 666 8000 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Gardaí question three men following seizure of €345,000 in cash
Three men in their forties are being questioned by Gardaí in connection with the seizure of €345,640 in cash following the search of a vehicle in Drumcondra in Dublin on Friday. The search was carried out as part of an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in money laundering and the sale and sale of drugs in Dublin. Members of the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) searched three male passengers in the vehicle and their luggage and located and seized the cash. The men are being detained in garda stations in the Dublin region. Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary, Dublin Metropolitan Region said that this 'significant seizure' of cash not only removes ill-gotten gains from the hands of criminals, but also deprives them of money they would have used to 'fund further criminal activities and cause harm in our communities.'
