Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

The Deputy asked what has happened since the death of Gary Douch. Mr. Mellet reported to me on an interim basis within days of his appointment that no prisoner who sought protection should be put in those circumstances. The practice was immediately prohibited within the Prison Service by way of an interim recommendation from Mr. Mellet.

With regard to psychiatrically ill prisoners, what is happening at present is wholly inadequate. The relationship between the Prison Service and the Central Mental Hospital is inadequate and, in some respects, indefensible. The Central Mental Hospital should act as a forensic psychiatric institution to serve people who need hospital treatment for psychiatric conditions and who are committed to the State's custody. It should not be the case, as has occurred in the past, that some people are returned to the Prison Service from Dundrum on the basis that they are too difficult to handle. That is an extraordinary state of affairs.

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