Attitude to mentally ill inmates ‘inhumane’

THE Inspector of Prisons has launched another attack on the Department of Justice, branding its attitude to prisoners with less severe mental health problems as “unchristian, inhumane and self-serving.”

Former High Court Judge Dermot Kinlen made the comments in a report into Castlerea Prison, which was published earlier this week.

While much of the attention focused on paramilitary inmates held in the Grove area of the prison, Mr Kinlen used the report to comment on the treatment of inmates suffering mental health problems.

Recent studies have found a high numbers of inmates suffer from varying degrees of mental illness. Mr Kinlen recommends rather than being sent to prison, they should have access to mental health services.

“At the moment it is deeply offensive and obscene the way these unfortunate people are sacrificed by feuding departments. Many people who have a bit of a want are rejected by psychiatrists because they can’t offer any treatment,” said Mr Kinlen.

“The outstanding example is the personality disorder. They are not acceptable as mental patients by psychiatrists and are dumped in prison where they deteriorate and cause havoc for the staff and other prisoners.

“This is an obscenity which is being eradicated in England where all such persons are put under the Mental Health System. The attitude of the Department is clearly unchristian, inhumane and self-serving.”

A Department of Justice spokesman said the Minister is strongly of the view that a prisoner with a severe mental illness should be treated in an appropriately secure therapeutic environment.

“In that regard the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has sought improved access to hospital care for prisoners certified by medical practitioners as in need of such treatment,” a spokesman said.

“It is undoubtedly the case that vulnerable and mentally disordered people are among those committed to prison, and it is therefore important to obtain a clear picture of the extent of mental illness among prisoners and to monitor their mental health on an ongoing basis,” the department added.

“The incidence of mental illness among prisoners is the subject of a research project undertaken by a team at the Central Mental Hospital.

“The research, which is supported by the Irish Prison Service, is well advanced. The results of this research will be published when available,” the department said.

During his visit, the Inspector met with its visiting committee which raised concerns about homelessness for discharged prisoners.