The mistaken release of a murder suspect from Maghaberry Prison has caused deep public concern and raises serious questions for the prison authorities.
The head of the prison service, Ronnie Armour, has apologised after Michael Lawrence Smith, who is charged with the murder of Stephen Carson in south Belfast last year, was freed in error on Tuesday.
Mr Armour said what occurred was a `very serious mistake' but it is not entirely clear how it came about that an inmate was released who should not have been.
We are told that Mr Smith was taken by a relative to a family event and it was only when he failed to return to the jail later on Tuesday that it was realised a mistake had been made.
This was alarming enough but it does not explain why it took until Wednesday afternoon for the public to be notified that a murder suspect was at large.
Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes, who described the missing man as `dangerous', urged the public not to approach him but to contact police immediately.
Police had strenously objected to bail being granted to Mr Smith to allow him to attend his son's Confirmation when he appeared at the High Court on Monday.
Bail was refused when the judge identified a possible risk of interfering with a key witness in the case.
An investigation is now under way into the circumstances of Mr Smith's wrongful release which plainly undermines public confidence in the prison service.
Unfortunately, it is not the first time in recent years that an inmate has been let out of jail by mistake.
On four occasions between 2010 and 2015, prisoners were released early including one man who was serving a six month sentence for assault and possession of a dangerous weapon.
As Mr Armour said, it is the role of the prison service to protect the public by holding securely those committed by the courts.
The mistaken release of Michael Smith represents a worrying failure on the part of the prison service.
