Prison service under fire over inaccurate records

The Irish Prison Service (ISP) has been criticised over the accuracy of record keeping of checks by prison officers on vulnerable prisoners in two separate investigations into the deaths of prison inmates.

The Inspector of Prisons has expressed concern that official logs kept by the prison authorities in Wheatfield and Cloverhill recorded the two prisoners being checked every 15 minutes as required when they had gone unchecked for longer periods.

“Public officials must realise that it is a serious matter to create inaccurate public records,” said Judge Michael Reilly.