Prisoner safety and sharing cells

Sir, – I read with deep regret the findings of Judge Michael Reilly's report into the death of "Prisoner B" in the Midlands Prison ("Prison criticised over dead inmate's accommodation", November 9th).

The death of this 61-year-old man, described as frail and suffering from health issues, may well have been prevented had a 2012 commitment to introduce a cell share-risk assessment been introduced.

Outlined in the Irish Prison Service's Three Year Strategic Plan 2012–2015 was a commitment to put in place a "cell share-risk assessment tool" by the end of 2012. Delays happen, unfortunately; however action is now needed. Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has announced that a pilot cell share-risk assessment tool had begun in the Midlands Prison. This, however, does not express any great urgency regarding this issue. Similarly, the Minister's predecessor, Alan Shatter TD, in May 2013 said that he hoped the delayed "cell share risk-assessment tool" would be finalised and in place by the end of that year.

A risk-assessment tool identifies those who present a high level of risk of being violent toward a cellmate or themselves. Cell-sharing risk assessment is critically important in the Irish prison system, where half of the population shares a cell.

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Examples of good practice can be found in New Zealand and Scotland, where prisoners are assessed based on factors such as age, vulnerability, mental health and type of crime.

The Government’s solution is a pilot scheme; surely there is a greater urgency to implement a practice that has already been tried and tested elsewhere.

Prisoner B’s death is not the only one that may have been prevented had there been a cell-share risk assessment. Gary Douche, who was beaten to death by a mentally ill cellmate in Mountjoy Prison in 2006, illustrates the risks of cell-sharing and the extremely dangerous implications of inadequate risk assessment and management of cell-sharing.

Unfortunately cell-sharing, which does not in any way reflect international best practice, is here to stay for the foreseeable future as the new prison soon to open in Cork has doubling-up as standard. The impact of “one person, one cell” in Mountjoy has assisted in the turnaround of what was once Ireland’s most overcrowded and violent prison. – Yours, etc,

EOIN CARROLL,

Advocacy

and Social Research Officer,

Jesuit Centre

for Faith and Justice,

Dublin 1.