Vol. 488 No. 7
96 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will conduct an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the detention of a person (details supplied) in the United Kingdom; his views on the fact that the person has had no legal representations to date in 1998; if he will take up with the British prison service the question of alleged assaults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7439/98]
Inquiries I have made through the Embassy in London indicate that the person in question, who was born in Britain, has been in detention for some time and, since 5 January 1998, is being detained under the British Mental Health Act. I understand a firm of solicitors in Britain has been acting for him and were in correspondence with the Embassy about him as recently as 9 March. The Embassy has asked this person for details of an alleged assault but that information has not yet been received. If and when it is received, the Embassy will take up the matter with the British authorities and I will inform the Deputy of the outcome.
