asked the Minister for Justice if he will list the deaths of persons in prison or Garda custody over the past five years; if, in the case of each death, he will give the verdict of the coroner's inquest; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Prison Deaths.
The following is a list of persons who died in prison or Garda custody since June 1983:
Name |
Date of Death |
Prison or Garda Custody |
Verdict of Coroner's inquest |
Martin Beatty |
12/9/83 |
Garda |
A. Cerebral Anoxia. |
B. Self Inflicted neck compression. |
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C. Suspension by a noose. |
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Luke Dowling |
4/11/83 |
Garda |
Asphyxia due to suspension or hanging in a cell. |
Bridget Delaney |
4/3/84 |
Garda |
Respiratory depression secondary to Ethol alcohol intoxication. |
Hugh Blaney |
8/9/84 |
Garda |
Coronary. |
Christopher Gamble |
4/10/85 |
Prison |
Death due to cardio respiratory failure due to dextromoramide toxicity self administered at Mountjoy Prison. |
John Scully |
10/11/85 |
Prison |
Death was caused by asphyxia due to hanging. |
Thomas Coughlan |
23/12/85 |
Prison |
Hypovalaemic shock in association with lacerations of the left brachial vein. |
Paul Kenna |
17/1/86 |
Prison |
Death caused by asphyxia due to suspension (hanging) self enacted at a cell in Mountjoy Prison. |
James Keegan |
26/9/86 |
Garda |
1a. Asphyxia and cerebal anoxia.b. Hanging. |
Anthony McEnroe |
7/10/86 |
Garda |
Pulmonary oedema and haemorrhage due to aspiration of stomach contents resulting from alcohol and methadone interaction. |
Brendan McLoughlin |
26/7/87 |
Prison |
Death from asphyxia due to hanging self enacted at St. Patrick's Institution. Death regarded by the Coroner as accidental. |
Philip McGrath |
12/2/88 |
Prison |
Cardiac and respiratory failure due to hanging. |
Michael McGowan |
16/4/88 |
Prison |
Inquest not held to date. |
Kevin McDonagh |
18/4/88 |
Prison |
Inquest not held to date. |
John Ryan |
13/6/88 |
Prison |
Inquest not held to date. |
It is hardly necessary to say that the deaths which occur from time to time in custody are a matter of very deep regret and that every effort is made to ensure the safety of persons committed to custody. It is, however, an unfortunate truth, which should be appreciated, that there can be no guarantee that the best efforts of the authorities in this regard will always be successful.