Prison service told to ensure ‘do not resuscitate’ decisions reflect 'consent' of prisoners

Officials within Mountjoy Prison were seeking the man’s early release on compassionate grounds due to the gravity of his condition.

The Irish Prison Service has been told to ensure that ‘do not resuscitate’ decisions for prisoners reflect “the free and informed consent” of the persons involved following the death of an inmate at a Dublin prison.

The instruction came from the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) after an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the 63-year-old prisoner in question. The prisoner, who was an inmate at Mountjoy Prison, died in hospital in January 2023.