Prisons in breach of universal standards

CLOSE to 300 inmates have attempted suicide or seriously mutilated themselves in Irish prisons over the last three years, the latest figures reveal.

However, despite international criticism over the treatment of mentally ill or distressed people in prison, Irish guidelines continue to fall far short of best practice and are in breach of international human rights protocols.

Valerie Bresnihan, head of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), said the continued isolation of mentally ill prisoners was a clear breach of international standards.

“According to all international human rights standards nobody that is looking like they may be about to commit suicide should be put in an isolation cell on their own,” said Ms Bresnihan.

A spokeswoman for justice minister Michael McDowell rejected the criticism saying padded isolation cells had been abolished and observation rooms had been introduced where people a danger to themselves could be watched.

However Ms Bresnihan said the new observation cells were not in line with international prison regulations, since distressed prisoners were still left alone without assistance or support: “The minister has abolished padded cells, but is not actually catering for the medical needs of people who are at risk. The observation cells are still in breach of international standards because people are still left on their own.”

The latest figures, obtained by Fine Gael’s Dan Neville in a parliamentary question last week, show that from January, 2000, to May 23 this year there were 276 cases of parasuicide in Irish prisons.

A further nine inmates committed suicide in the same period while there were 11 attempted suicides in Garda stations.