Rights watchdog condemns mental hospital plans

CONTROVERSIAL Government plans to move the Central Mental Hospital to a new ‘super prison’ complex were dealt a blow yesterday after the State’s human rights watchdog came out strongly against the proposal.

The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) said it was "gravely concerned" at the plan and said it could "undermine" the rights of mentally ill people.

In a wide-ranging and highly-critical report to the Government, the IHRC demanded an end to the "widespread use" of padded cells for mentally ill prisoners a commitment made by the Government in August 2002.

It said this practice raised the "possibility that Ireland was in violation of the European Convention of Human Rights."

The body expressed concern that the Government would not fulfil its commitment to end the placement of people with intellectual disabilities in psychiatric hospitals by 2006.

The IHRC dossier is a progress report on the Government's response to a damning investigation carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) in 2002.

The dossier noted poor progress and called for wholesale Government reform in areas of policing, complaints procedures, prisons, mental health care and detention of children.

The body heavily criticised plans driven by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to move the Central Mental Hospital (CMH).

"The IHRC is gravely concerned about the proposal by the Government to redevelop the new Central Mental Hospital on the same site as the new Mountjoy prison.

"The IHRC considers that this is highly inappropriate and could undermine the right of mentally ill patients to be treated in a hospital environment."

The watchdog called for policing reforms after the CPT report highlighted 'credible' claims that people had been physically ill-treated by gardaí. These reforms include requirements that:

All interviews with suspects be video-recorded;

Video-recording facilities be set up in reception areas, cells and garda transport vehicles;

Suspects be given the right to have a solicitor present during questioning;

Garda Ombudsman's powers be extended to allow it enter garda stations regularly and unannounced.

The IHRC said prison rules censoring prisoner post were not "in accordance with the law."

The body repeated calls to the Government to deal with persistent overcrowding and sanitation problems in Mountjoy and Cork prisons.

It also criticised the "protracted delay" in implementing the Children Act 2001.

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said "significant progress" had been made in many areas, including plans to roll out replacements to padded cells in all prisons.