Local judge allowed former minister to leave prison to visit his child in hospital

One of the former ministers in custody facing charges of rebellion for the 2017 independence bid was given permission to leave prison on Saturday to visit his son in hospital.

Josep Rull's son fell and hit his head while visiting his father in Lledoners prison on Saturday morning, lost consciousness, and was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

The prison authorities consulted a judge in the nearby city of Manresa, who issued permission for the former territory minister to visit his son in the local Sant Joan de Déu hospital.

Two-hour prison leave

The permission was issued at 5pm on Saturday, with Rull leaving the prison under police guard at 5.18pm, and returning to the penitentiary at 7.20pm the same evening.

On regaining consciousness, the boy was at first disoriented and unable to recognize his family members, but was discharged a few hours later and spent Kings night at home.

Supreme Court studying details of case

Sources in Spain's Supreme Court, where Rull and other political leaders will stand trial, confirmed that the former minister was allowed to leave prison for a few hours and said the court would now study the details of case.