One of the longest-serving prisoners in the State is to be let out of jail on Christmas Day.
Malcolm Macarthur will spend five hours with his family before returning to the open prison at Shelton Abbey in Wicklow.
It is only the second time Macarthur has been on temporary release since he was given a life sentence for the murder of nurse Bridie Gargan in the Phoenix Park in 1982.
The decision to permit his short parole was taken by the Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea.