Debate contribution: Prisoner Release Victim Information Scheme
Debate contribution by Mr Jon Burrows on .
- MLA
- Mr Jon Burrows
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 4 November 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Question for Urgent Oral Answer
- Heading
- Prisoner Release Victim Information Scheme
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5216731
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Michael and Marjorie Cawdery were innocent, 83-year-old pensioners who were, I have to say — I served in the district at the time — butchered by Thomas McEntee in their own home. Only in Northern Ireland would the killer be walking around free eight years later. There is something very wrong with our justice system. Specifically on pre-release testing, to describe an error whereby a double killer was released onto our streets 13 times as being an administrative error is insulting to every victim that has been affected. There was a catastrophic systems failure of training, IT, safeguards, processes and leadership. It is more than the pre-release testing system that is not fit purpose; it is the Minister. Do you agree?
121 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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