The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has recommended "formalised arrangements" for the escort of remand prisoners, and the establishment of Criminal Justice Units, that would be responsible for the management of court files.

It also says that gardaí should seek "prompt and indisputable instruction from the Court Service".

They are among seven recommendations made following the examination of a case, in which a man was allowed to walk out of court despite a warrant remanding him in custody.

Three weeks later, the man, Celyn Eadon, murdered his mother.

Eadon stabbed Noreen Kelly 19 times at their home at Derrycrieve, Islandeady, in Castlebar, on 9 March 2011.

He had been remanded in custody during a sitting of Castlebar District Court on 16 February 2011, and a committal warrant was issued.

However, GSCO found that later there was some doubt about the validity of the warrant, and it is not known what happened to the warrant thereafter.

The original has not been located, a copy was not retained, the warrant was not executed and the status of the warrant was not tracked by the Garda Síochána.

GSOC says in its report that its recommendations can only be progressed by a multi-agency group, tasked with updating and codifying the criminal justice system as a whole.

It says although instances like this rarely occur, when they do, they are potentially dangerous and injurious to public confidence.