Jury recommends high-support units for all prisons

High-support units should be introduced in all Irish prisons and prison staff should get ongoing training on mental health issues, an inquest jury recommended yesterday after returning a verdict of suicide in the case of a prisoner who was found dead in his cell over three years ago.

The jury at Cork City Coroner’s Court also recommended improved information exchange between prison medical staff and prison staff, and the commencement of and funding for the Irish Prison Service psychology strategy.

The recommendations came at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Roy O’Driscoll, aged 25, from Summerhill, Mallow, Co Cork, in a cell in the former Cork Prison on May 10, 2013.