Attempts At Securing Release
In 2000 O'Hare requested a judicial review, stating that he should have been released under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. On 6 April 2001 the High Court reserved judgement on the case pending information from the Department of Justice. On 8 December 2002 O'Hare was transferred to Castlerea Prison in preparation for his release, and a week later issued a statement saying his "war was over".
The Irish Republican Socialist Party (INLA's political wing) also mounted a campaign for his release, stating, "Dessie's "crime", if 'crime' it was, was to be an active Republican".
O'Hare was first granted temporary release from prison in November 2003 when he attended a weekend long course on conflict resolution in Glencree, and he was granted further periods of temporary release in November 2004 and March 2005. In November 2005 he was returned to Portlaoise Prison after he was caught with a mobile phone and a bag of pills when returning to Castlerea from temporary release, which jeopardised his chance of release on licence.
O'Hare launched a new High Court bid for freedom in April 2006, and was granted extended temporary release. He returned to Northern Ireland, and was believed to be living in Newtownhamilton in South Armagh. The Police Service of Northern Ireland stated O'Hare will not be arrested on suspicion of involvement in up to 30 unsolved killings because the alleged offences predate the Good Friday Agreement. However, investigations have not been ruled out by the Historical Enquiries Team, which has been assigned to probe all unsolved killings during the Troubles.
Read more about this topic: Dessie O'Hare
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