The Department of Justice has reappointed four commissioners to the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland (PCNI).

John O’Neill and Matthew Corkey return as legal commissioners, while Dr Christine Kennedy and Dr Jeremy Kenney-Herbert continue as specialist commissioners in psychiatry and psychology.

The reappointments bring the total number of serving commissioners to 37.

PCNI is an independent body responsible for deciding whether offenders serving life sentences, public protection sentences, or determinate custodial sentences of 12 months or more can safely be released or recalled to prison. Public protection remains the overriding consideration, with decisions based on rigorous risk assessment.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said the commissioners perform a critical role by providing independent judgments on prisoner release and recall. She stressed that painstaking risk assessment is fundamental to ensuring public safety.

The reappointments were made under the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008. Commissioners serve on a fee-paid basis and are selected on merit in line with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland code of practice. Political activity plays no role in the process.