Dan Neville
Question:291 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of attempted suicides in Irish prisons in 1999. [14302/00]
Written Answers. - Prison Suicides.
I have been advised by the Director General of the Prisons Service that 54 cases of attempted suicide were reported to the prison authorities between 13 January 1999 and December 1999. Tragically, six of these cases resulted in the death of the prisoner.
The National Steering Group on Deaths in Prisons has reported that there are good policies in place and a good level of awareness among prison staff in relation to suicide awareness. The group noted in its report that many possible deaths are saved by the alertness and vigilance of staff. Appropriate training in the recognition and response to suicidal behaviour is provided in the induction programme for recruit prison officers. In addition, all serving staff have received familiarisation training in this area. However, despite the elaborate strategy for the prevention of suicides in prisons, the possibility of suicides in custody cannot be precluded no more than it can be precluded in the wider community, unless there is a total denial of all personal privacy to all prisoners at all times.