Sean Quinn granted temporary release from prison

Jailed local businessman Sean Quinn will get to spend three days and nights with his family over the Christmas period after he was granted temporary release from prison this evening. It is understood the decision was made following discussions between the Attorney General, the Prison Service and the Minister for Justice. The 66-year-old will be released on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day. An emergency application was due to take place before the courts tomorrow morning, but the action has been averted following the Chief State Solicitor saying she had no objections to a brief compassionate temporary release (CTR). Sean Sr will not however be free to attend his granddaughter's christening this coming Saturday. Sean Sr is currently serving a nine-week sentence at Mountjoy's Training Unit for contempt of court. The Anglo-Celt understands from speaking to members of the family that requests from Sean Sr and his family were referred to Attorney General Maire Whelan. When Sean Sr was sentenced last month, his legal team at that stage applied for CTR, but Justice Elizabeth Dunne ruled that any such application would have to be referred to the prison authorities. Colette Quinn told The Anglo-Celt yesterday, before the decision was made, that at that stage they were aware that applications had been made for her father's release, but were expecting to spend Christmas without him. "It's a very frightening situation and it's a terrible feeling for any family to have a loved one kept away from them and in prison." However, following his release yesterday, this newspaper received a statement from the family saying, "we are obviously delighted to have dad home for Christmas, and are looking forward to 2013".