Watchdog warns of overcrowding ‘burden’ at prison

A prison watchdog has warned of the “tremendous burden” on staff in trying to manage tensions caused by overcrowding at Cloverhill Prison — the scene of a riot two weeks ago, during which a foreign national inmate was stabbed.

The Cloverhill Prison Visiting Committee “forcefully reiterated” previous warnings regarding the security, as well as health and safety, implications resulting from overcrowding at the remand jail in west Dublin.

In its 2014 annual report, the committee urged the Irish Prison Service “to be more proactive in dealing with this potentially dangerous situation”.

The committee also raised concerns about foreign nationals being detained in the prison on immigration issues — and claimed they were often deported with “no access to legal advice”.

On July 30, 15 inmates orchestrated a riot in the prison, which resulted in a total of 60 prisoners refusing to leave the exercise yard.

The ringleaders ripped down security wiring and smashed up a staff observation post and a soccer goal. They used parts of them as weapons. Two other inmates scaled the roof and refused to come down for over 12 hours.

Staff from neighbouring Wheatfield Prison had to be called in to help respond and, together with Cloverhill officers, formed control and restraint teams.

At the height of the riot, some of the ringleaders seriously assaulted Afghan migrant Wali Ullah Safi, during which he was slashed across the face, possibly with broken glass. At that stage, the riot officers went in and forcibly dragged the ringleaders into custody.

The visiting committee said when population levels at the prison exceed 400 it leads to operational difficulties.

The committee said “inmates sometimes sleep on floors”, on mattresses, which causes tension and disruption, though it noted the situation had improved by year’s end.

“We have previously highlighted our opinion that there is an apparent link between overcrowding and tensions in prisons,” the report said.

“This is apart from the health and safety concerns for both staff and prisoners. We forcefully reiterate that opinion.”

The report added: “We feel that it has a tremendous burden on the officers, aside from the obvious security implications.”

The committee reiterated its opinion that foreign nationals detained on immigration matters, including deportation, should be housed in a secure holding centre, not Cloverhill Prison. “This whole area needs to be reviewed by the minister,” the report said. “It is often the case that prisoners are deported where many have had no access to legal advice.”

It said the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture had also “raised concerns in relation to this practice” during their visit to Ireland in 2014.

The visiting committee highlighted its “disappointment” that the passive drug detection dog was no longer used during the week in searches.

It said drugs were being thrown over prison walls and that this “continues to be a huge cause for concern”.

The report also said there had been “a substantial increase” in the number of prisoners requesting protection on arrival.

“This can be a significant percentage of the prison population on any given day,” it said.

“This continues to place a massive strain on the prison’s resources, and can be a logistical nightmare.”