The man who murdered Dundee mum-of-three Mary McLaren had to rubber stamp the terms of his own prison transfer to Ireland.
Patrick Rae, who had a series of convictions for sexual assault before he abused and killed Mary then dumped her body in undergrowth near the Ladywell roundabout in the city in 2010, had previously begged to be moved back to his homeland.
A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said he could not comment on individual prisoners but confirmed any repatriation would take place through the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Prisoners.
He said: “An essential requirement is that both countries and the prisoner must consent to the conditions of the repatriation before it can take place.
“The prisoner will be required to complete the sentence issued by the court.
“Once transferred the prisoner fails to be treated as an individual who was sentenced in that state and therefore he or she will then be considered for release in terms of the receiving country’s own domestic legislation.
“Cost to the taxpayer is not a consideration in such cases. One of the key principles behind the process is to offer the best chance of rehabilitation to an offender once released.
“Allowing family members contact with an offender is a recognised means of building a support network well in advance of any consideration for release.”
Mary’s mum, Margaret McIntosh, told The Courier she would protest the decision to allow Rae’s move.