Written answers
Thursday, 22 October 2020
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison Deaths
Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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139. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 607 of 6 October 2020, the number of deaths in custody covered that took place while a prisoner was outside the prison; the definition of narrative verdict; if she could provide an explanation as to the way in which a death in custody could be an open verdict; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32106/20]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that further to the information provided in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 607 of 6 October 2020, which reported on the number of deaths in prison custody from 2010 to 2020, I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that 51 of those deaths occurred in hospital. The relevant details are set out in Table 1 beneath.
In addition, I can also inform the Deputy that there were 66 further deaths of prisoners, during the same period, who were on some form of temporary release from prison or were Unlawfully-at-Large from prison at the time of their death. The information with regard to this cohort is set out in Table 2.
As advised previously, all deaths in custody are the subject of a Garda investigation and an inquest held in a Coroners Court.
The conduct of inquests is entirely a matter for the coroner for the district concerned. The coroner is an independent office holder and the Department has no role in the scheduling of inquests.
I am advised that there is no definition of “verdict” in Irish coronial law. However, the terms in question and other verdicts are used by coroners at the conclusion of inquests to best describe the outcome of their investigation into the death of the deceased.
Deaths in prison are reportable to a coroner who will then decide, in the circumstances, whether to direct a post-mortem examination and conduct an inquest. There may be a number of factors which give rise to delays in the holding of an inquest. Family members of the deceased are advised to maintain contact with the relevant coroner.
Table 1: Deaths in Custody 2010 to 1 October 2020 classified by Year, Gender, Prison, Cause of Death as determined by Coroner and the number of deaths in custody that took place while a prisoner was outside the prison
Year | Gender | Prison | Cause of Death (as determined by Coroner) | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | ||||
Male | Cloverhill | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Limerick | Inquest Pending | Limerick Prison | |
Male | Castlerea | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Castlerea | Inquest Pending | Castlerea Prison | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Inquest Pending | Arbour Hill Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Inquest Pending | Wheatfield Prison | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Inquest Pending | Arbour Hill Prison | |
Male | Cork | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
2019 | ||||
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Cloverhill | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Cloverhill | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Cloverhill | Inquest Pending | Cloverhill Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Limerick | Inquest Pending | Limerick Prison | |
Male | Cork | Inquest Pending | Cork Prison | |
Male | Portlaoise | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Wheatfield | Inquest Pending | Wheatfield Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
2018 | ||||
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Cork | Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Inquest Pending | Mountjoy Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Inquest Pending | Wheatfield Prison | |
Male | Cork | Suicide | Cork Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | Inquest Pending | Mountjoy Prison | |
2017 | ||||
Male | Cloverhill | Suicide | Cloverhill Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Limerick | Open Verdict | Limerick Prison | |
Male | Cork | Suicide | Cork Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Open Verdict | Hospital | |
Male | Cork | Natural Causes | Cork Prison | |
2016 | ||||
Male | Mountjoy | Suicide | Mountjoy Prison | |
Male | Midlands | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Wheatfield | Narrative | Hospital | |
Male | Portlaoise | Suicide | Portlaoise Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | ‘Deceased took his own life.’ | Mountjoy Prison | |
2015 | ||||
Male | Cloverhill | Narrative | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Suicide | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Misadventure | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Midlands | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Castlerea | Open Verdict | Castlerea Prison | |
Male | Portlaoise | Inquest Pending | Portlaoise Prison | |
Female | Dochas Centre | Narrative | Hospital | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Cork | Unlawful Killing | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Misadventure | Mountjoy Prison | |
Male | Midlands | Natural Causes | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | ‘Deceased took his own life.’ | Hospital | |
Male | Cloverhill | Misadventure | Hospital | |
2014 | ||||
Male | Limerick | Misadventure | Limerick Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Misadventure | Wheatfield Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Narrative | Hospital | |
Male | Cloverhill | Open | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Suicide | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Suicide | Mountjoy Prison | |
2013 | ||||
Male | Wheatfield | Natural Causes | Wheatfield Prison | |
Male | Castlerea | Inquest Pending | Hospital | |
Male | Limerick | Open Verdict | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Death by Suicide | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Death by Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Cork | Suicide | Cork Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Death by Suicide | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Inquest Pending | Midlands Prison | |
2012 | ||||
Male | Mountjoy | Suicide | Mountjoy Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands | Natural Causes | Midlands Prison | |
Male | Limerick | Open | Limerick Prison | |
Male | Mountjoy | Suicide | Mountjoy Prison | |
2011 | ||||
Male | Cloverhill | Suicide | Cloverhill Prison | |
Male | Shelton Abbey | Misadventure | Shelton Abbey | |
Male | Wheatfield | Narrative Verdict | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy | Misadventure | Mountjoy Prison | |
Male | Wheatfield | Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Castlerea | Misadventure | Castlerea Prison | |
2010 | ||||
Male | Wheatfield Prison | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands Prison | Suicide | Midlands Prison | |
Female | Dochas Centre | Suicide | Dochas Centre | |
Male | Mountjoy Prison | Suicide | Hospital | |
Male | Arbour Hill Prison | Narrative Verdict | Hospital | |
Male | Cloverhill Prison | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands Prison | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Midlands Prison | Natural Causes | Hospital | |
Male | Mountjoy Prison | Misadventure | Mountjoy Prison | |
Male | Cork Prison | Misadventure | Hospital | |
Male | Loughan House | Misadventure | Loughan House |
Table 2: Deaths 1 January 2010 to 1 October 2020 classified by Year, Gender and Prison, that took place while a prisoner was outside the prison on Temporary Release, Renewable Temporary Release, Full Temporary Release or Unlawfully at Large.
Year | Gender | Prison | Prisoner Status |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | |||
Male | Cork | Unlawfully at Large | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
2019 | |||
Male | Midlands | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Female | Dochas | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Limerick | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Cork | Temporary Release | |
2018 | |||
Male | Castlerea | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Female | Dochas | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Shelton Abbey | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Shelton Abbey | Temporary Release | |
Male | Cork | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Female | Dochas | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Castlerea | Unlawfully at Large | |
Male | Midlands | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Renewable Temporary Release | |
2017 | |||
Male | Castlerea | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Temporary Release | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Temporary Release | |
Male | Midlands | Renewable Temporary Release | |
2016 | |||
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Midlands | Temporary Release | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Temporary Release | |
Male | Midlands | Renewable Temporary Release | |
2015 | |||
Male | Loughan House | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Cork | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Full Temporary Release | |
Male | Midlands | Temporary Release | |
Female | Limerick | Temporary Release | |
Male | Wheatfield | Temporary Release | |
2014 | |||
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Shelton Abbey | Temporary Release | |
Male | Limerick | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Midlands | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Female | Dochas Centre | Renewable Temporary Release | |
2013 | |||
Male | Cork | Temporary Release | |
Male | Castlerea | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Midlands | Renewable Temporary Release | |
2012 | |||
Male | Wheatfield | Temporary Release | |
Male | Castlerea | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Cloverhill | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Arbour Hill | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Cork | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Midlands | Renewable Temporary Release | |
Male | Shelton Abbey | Renewable Temporary Release | |
2011 | |||
Male | Midlands | Temporary Release | |
Male | Wheatfield | Temporary Release | |
Male | Mountjoy | Temporary Release | |
Male | Wheatfield | Temporary Release | |
2010 | |||
Male | Wheatfield | Renewable Temporary Release | |
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