Minister had visited Mountjoy previously
On the contrary, and appropriately given that it is one of the largest prisons in the Irish system, the minister visited Mountjoy when he was Attorney General and as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in July 2003.
He consistently expressed his concern at the conditions in which disturbed prisoners were being kept, albeit for short periods. He directed that the old padded cells were to be phased out of use in Irish prisons.
This progressive move was widely reported at the time and on many occasions since. Last week the minister visited Cloverhill to view some of the new, humane facilities which by next March will be installed throughout the prison system.
All this information is available in a short press release issued on Monday, December 5, and published on the Department’s website. It was also widely reported in the national print and broadcast media. Opinion is much more effective, not to mention more engaging, when it is based on facts which are in the public domain.
Oonagh McPhillips
Press Officer
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
St Stephens Green
Dublin 2
