Use of padded cells inhuman and degrading, says rights body

THE continuing use of padded cells for prisoners with psychiatric problems amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, a European human rights body said yesterday.

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) said there were allegations of mistreatment in prisons, mainly verbal abuse, but

also including kicks and slaps.

In a report drawn up following visits to three Irish prisons in May 2002, the CPT said prisoners in need of psychiatric help were frequently placed in unfurnished padded cells.

"The use of padded cells for the management of persons in need of psychiatric care and, more particularly, of in-patient hospital treatment, is a source of great concern," said the report.

The CPT delegation said padded cells were:

* Poorly lit and dirty.

* The inmate was given disposable chamber pots, a mattress and a blanket.

* The blankets were often filthy.

* Prisoners were often left naked or in their underwear.

* The inmate remained in the cell throughout the day.

It said some prisoners continued to receive drugs previously prescribed to them, but others received no pharmacological treatment.

The CPT was told that only hospitals could give medication without the consent of the person.

"As a result of the difficulties in securing treatment to a suitable establishment, persons in need of in-patient psychiatric treatment remained in a padded cell for days and, on occasion, for longer periods (eg up to a few weeks)."

Commenting, the report said: "The practice observed in the prisons visited will frequently contribute to the deterioration of the mental state of the prisoners concerned and can therefore only be described as anti-therapeutic.

"In the CPT's opinion, the treatment described above could well be characterised as inhuman and degrading."

Prison Service director general Sean Aylward yesterday said the number of padded cells had been cut dramatically. "They are a regrettable necessity, invoked as little as possible, and far less than was in the recent past," he said.

He said local psychiatric hospitals would not take mentally ill prisoners. "I think it's a tragedy, I think it's wrong, but it's a fact."

He said the Central Mental Hospital the only hospital that will had actually cut the numbers that it can take.

"That's the sad situation. It's putting the whole prison system in a bind."

He said Justice Minister Michael McDowell had asked the Prison Service to replace the padded cells with new safety observation cells by June 2004.