Report shows an increase in death in Irish prisons

DEATH in prisons rose by 20% between 1999 and 2000, according to a new report.

Nine of the 16 deaths over the two years were self inflicted in the form of hangings - their average age just 25.

The long-awaited Irish Prison Service Report for 1999 and 2000, published yesterday, shows that:

* five prisoners died from natural causes, one of them aged 21.

* one died from a drugs overdose, aged 20.

* one died after being stabbed by his cell mate, who has since been sent to life imprisonment.

* one died from asphyxiation.

The figures show there were seven custody deaths in 1999 - six of them hangings - and nine deaths in 2000 - including two hangings, a fatal stabbing and an overdose.

Of the 16 deaths, 14 were male (88%), while two were female. Nine of the deaths occurred in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.

In the report, the Governor of Wheatfield Prison, in Clondalkin, Dublin said one prisoner took his own life “within a short time of suffering distress as a result of a sensational media advertisement, which characterised him as ‘the Beast’.”

Governor Ned Whelan said a complaint was made to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, which was upheld and an apology was issued.

The report noted there were 14 escapes from custody in 1999 and eight in 2000, all of them outside the confines of prison, usually in the course of an escort to court or hospital.

“The vast majority of the escapees were recaptured and returned to prison to complete their sentences. A few returned voluntarily,” said the report.

The number of escapes increased again to 14 in 2001 with at least eight so far this year.

In addition, the report shows that 307 people absconded from the country’s three open centres, which have a low security regime, in 1999 and 2000.

Some 241 of these returned (79%), leaving 66 (21%) unaccounted for.

The three centres are Loughan House in Co Cavan, which caters for males aged 18 and over, Shanganagh Centre, Shankill, Co Dublin, catering for male juveniles aged 16-21, and Shelton Abbey, Arklow, Co Wicklow, dealing with males aged 19 and over.

The report notes there were two serious assaults on prison officers in Cork Prison and one serious assault on an officer in Limerick Prison in 2000.

The report said staff absenteeism continued to be a problem, with each officer taking, on average, almost 17 days sick leave each year in 2000.

This increased to as much as 20 days in 2001.

Prison Service director general Seán Aylward said the ‘revolving door’ had ended in the service over 1999 and 2000.

He said three new prisons were also opened: Dóchas women’s prison, the Midlands Prison and Cloverhill Prison.