Written answers

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Department of Justice and Equality

Prison Deaths

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Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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607. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deaths in custody by year, by prison, by gender and by cause of death in each of the years 2010 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28536/20]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all deaths in custody are notified to An Garda Síochána, who investigate where circumstances warrant, in addition to the inquest held in the Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Coroner’s Court.

Moreover, all deaths in custody are also subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons. The investigation by the Inspector of Prisons applies to prisoners who are in the custody of the Irish Prison Service, and includes those instances where the death of the prisoner has occurred outside the prison, or the prisoner in question was recently on temporary release at the time of death.

The Irish Prison Service also has an internal review mechanism which assesses the circumstances of a death in custody, highlights accountability and outlines any actions to be taken in relation to the incident.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that 100 deaths, classified as deaths in custody, were recorded for the period 2010 to 04 October 2020.

Table1: Deaths in Custody 2010 to 1 October 2020 classified by Cause of Death as determined by Coroner:

Cause of Death Number
Inquest Pending 35
Misadventure 18
Suicide 17
Open Verdict 6
Natural Causes 15
Narrative Verdict 6
Deceased took own life 2
Unlawful Killing 1
Total 100

Table 2: Deaths in Custody 2010 to 1 October 2020 classified by Year, Gender, Prison, and Cause of Death as determined by Coroner

Year Gender Prison Cause of Death (as determined by Coroner)
2020
Male Cloverhill Inquest Pending
Male Limerick Inquest Pending
Male Castlerea Inquest Pending
Male Castlerea Inquest Pending
Male Arbour Hill Inquest Pending
Male Wheatfield Inquest Pending
Male Arbour Hill Inquest Pending
Male Cork Inquest Pending
2019
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
Male Cloverhill Inquest Pending
Male Cloverhill Inquest Pending
Male Cloverhill Inquest Pending
Female Dochas Centre Inquest Pending
Male Wheatfield Inquest Pending
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
Male Arbour Hill Inquest Pending
Male Limerick Inquest Pending
Male Cork Inquest Pending
Male Portlaoise Inquest Pending
Male Wheatfield Inquest Pending
Male Mountjoy Inquest Pending
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
2018
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
Male Cork Misadventure
Male Mountjoy Inquest Pending
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
Male Mountjoy Inquest Pending
Male Wheatfield Inquest Pending
Male Cork Suicide
Male Mountjoy Inquest Pending
2017
Male Cloverhill Suicide
Male Wheatfield Inquest Pending
Male Limerick Open Verdict
Male Cork Suicide
Male Mountjoy Misadventure
Male Midlands Natural Causes
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
Male Mountjoy Open Verdict
Male Cork Natural Causes
2016
Male Mountjoy Suicide
Male Midlands Natural Causes
Male Wheatfield Narrative
Male Portlaoise Suicide
Male Mountjoy ‘Deceased took his own life.’
2015
Male Cloverhill Narrative
Male Midlands Suicide
Male Mountjoy Natural Causes
Male Midlands Misadventure
Male Midlands Natural Causes
Male Castlerea Open Verdict
Male Portlaoise Inquest Pending
Female Dochas Centre Narrative
Male Arbour Hill Natural Causes
Male Cork Unlawful Killing
Male Midlands Misadventure
Male Mountjoy Misadventure
Male Midlands Natural Causes
Male Mountjoy ‘Deceased took his own life.’
Male Cloverhill Misadventure
2014
Male Limerick Misadventure
Male Wheatfield Misadventure
Male Wheatfield Natural Causes
Male Mountjoy Narrative
Male Cloverhill Open
Male Mountjoy Misadventure
Male Mountjoy Suicide
Male Mountjoy Suicide
2013
Male Wheatfield Natural Causes
Male Castlerea Inquest Pending
Male Limerick Open Verdict
Male Mountjoy Death by Suicide
Male Mountjoy Death by Misadventure
Male Cork Suicide
Male Wheatfield Natural Causes
Male Mountjoy Death by Suicide
Male Midlands Inquest Pending
2012
Male Mountjoy Suicide
Male Mountjoy Misadventure
Male Midlands Natural Causes
Male Limerick Open
Male Mountjoy Suicide
2011
Male Cloverhill Suicide
Male Shelton Abbey Misadventure
Male Wheatfield Narrative Verdict
Male Mountjoy Misadventure
Male Wheatfield Misadventure
Male Castlerea Misadventure
2010
Male Wheatfield Prison Natural Causes
Male Midlands Prison Suicide
Female Dochas Centre Suicide
Male Mountjoy Prison Suicide
Male Arbour Hill Prison Narrative Verdict
Male Cloverhill Prison Natural Causes
Male Midlands Prison Natural Causes
Male Midlands Prison Natural Causes
Male Mountjoy Prison Misadventure
Male Cork Prison Misadventure
Male Loughan House Misadventure

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