asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that an untried prisoner awaiting removal to Mountjoy Prison was, while held at Fermoy Gárda station, put into a cell which was subsequently condemned by a doctor and from which cell he was removed to hospital; and if he is further aware that after the doctor had condemned this cell another prisoner was confined therein.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fermoy Gárda Station.
Mr. Daly
I have received a report on the matters referred to by the Deputy. The facts are as follows:—
A prisoner, presumably the one referred to in the first part of the question, was detained in Fermoy Gárda Station from the 23rd to the 25th October, inclusive. On the two nights of his detention he was kept in one of the two cells provided for the accommodation of prisoners. While in the cell he was issued with four regulation blankets and four uniform great coats. He also had his own overcoat. During the daytime he was accommodated, as far as could be found convenient, in the day-room or in the men's kitchen. On the 25th October he was examined at his own request by a doctor, who certified that he was suffering from tonsillitis. Within an hour he was released from custody and he entered Fermoy hospital the same night for treatment.
On the 30th October the Gárda medical officer inspected the cells and recommended that their use should be discontinued.
On the 7th November certain prisoners were being interrogated, and it was found necessary to keep one prisoner whose interrogation had concluded apart from the others. He was accordingly placed in one of the cells, and was kept there for approximately one and a half hours in the middle of the day. This apparently is the prisoner referred to in the latter part of the question. On the night of the 7th-8th November he was given a bed in the day-room.