A former governor of Loughan House says the benefits of open prisons cannot be "overlooked and overshadowed" by an absconding prisoner.
Dan Scannell added there is nothing unusual about prisoners like John Mangan being held in open prisons.
Mangan, aged 53, has been in prison for over ten years on drug and firearm offences, and was within three years of completing his sentence.
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He absconded from Loughan House on Monday night and Cavan gardaí are assisting the Irish Prison Service in tracing his whereabouts.
Dan Scannell told The Joe Finnegan Show that open prisons are "an important means of reform":
