Prison Service criticised by chaplains

PADDED cells are being used to punish prisoners despite a rule that they should be restricted to inmates at highest risk of self-harm, according to chaplains working in jails.

The claim is made in a highly critical National Prison Chaplains’ report which condemns the courts and Irish Prison Service for “shameful and unacceptable” treatment of vulnerable inmates.

The Prison Service denied the claim, saying there was no question of anyone being confined to a padded cell as a punishment. “Prison rules specifically prohibit it,” said spokesman Jim Mitchell.

But head chaplain Fr Declan Blake, who speaks for the country’s 22 chaplains, insisted the reality was different. “It does definitely happen. Someone gets into trouble or there’s an assault and they’re thrown into a padded cell before they see the governor the next day. Even it it’s only overnight, it’s against the rules.”

The report raises a series of concerns. It says there has been a significant increase in the jailing of people with serious psychiatric illnesses and accuses the courts of labouring under an “illusion” that there was adequate care and supports in jails to help them.

The report also criticises the refusal of prison authorities to allow prisoners compassionate release to attend family funerals as a general rule, claiming it adds to anger and resentment among inmates.

Remand prisoners fare worst, despite not having been convicted, because they must go to court to request their release and “solicitors are often unaware of the appropriate protocol.” In the case of convicted prisoners, the report states: “governors are very slow to facilitate an escort when it is left to their discretion.”

Deportees are also poorly treated, according to the report, which says up to 30 men and women are held in prisons awaiting deportation at any one time.

Among other highlighted concerns are the inadequacy of counselling and therapeutic services for prisoners with psychological, behavioural and addiction problems.

Mr Mitchell rejected the criticisms and said the report ignored the many educational and training opportunities available to inmates and the improvements being made to the physical condition of jails.

But Fr Blake said it suited the service to “paint a rosy picture.” “In Arbour Hill where we have 140 prisoners, many in for very serious crimes, we have just one psychologist whose time is taken up running the sex offenders’ programme so the vast majority of prisoners have no counselling or psychological support.”