Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 760: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners who have died in custody each year for the past four years and to date in 2009 in tabular form; the prison or Garda station that each of the deceased was held in immediately before or at the time of their death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31415/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The following table shows the number and breakdown by institution of deaths in prison custody each year for the past four years and to date in 2009.

All deaths in prison custody are the subject of a Garda investigation and an inquest held in a Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Court. Of the total number of deaths in custody since 2005, the cause of death has been determined formally in twenty eight cases. Nine deaths were attributed to natural causes, nine were classified as deaths by misadventure, three were classified as open verdicts, three were classified as suicide, two were classified as accidental and a narrative verdict was recorded in two cases.

There are strategies and plans in place in all institutions for the prevention of suicides. The circumstances of each death in prison custody are also examined by a multi-disciplinary group in each institution. Their objective is to identify, where possible, measures which might be implemented to contribute to a reduction in the risk of deaths in the future. In addition, the Irish Prison Service Steering Group for the Prevention of Self-Harm and Death in the Prison Population provides a forum for collating the reports of the local groups and disseminating significant findings throughout the prison system.

Deaths in Garda Custody refer to a death which takes place after a person comes into the custody and control of a Garda and before leaving the custody and control of a Garda. Thus it includes, for example, a death at any time from the time of arrest, including the handing of a person into the care of a hospital for treatment, or prison while under the control of a Garda.

Prior to the establishment of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, investigations into deaths occurring in Garda custody were carried out by a Superintendent from outside the Garda Division, appointed by the Divisional Officer. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission commenced operations on 9 May 2007. Section 102 (1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 states that the Garda Commissioner shall refer to the Ombudsman Commission any matter that appears to the Garda Commissioner to indicate that the conduct of a member of the Garda Síochána may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person.

The following table shows the number of deaths of person in Garda custody recorded by An Garda Síochána for 2005 - 2009 (10th September 2009) :