Vol. 530 No. 3
246 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the transport arrangements for persons (details supplied) both of whom, in separate incidents, escaped from custody; the information given to the Garda Síochána concerning their travel arrangements; the reason no Garda Síochána escort was provided; and the steps he will take to ensure such incidents do not occur again. [3829/01]
The first incident occurred on 25 January 2001 when an offender was being escorted by prison staff from Cloverhill Prison to Cork Prison. The offender was accompanied on the escort by three prison staff and he was handcuffed to one prison officer. He placed a syringe to the neck of one of the escorting officers, forc ing the other officers to unlock his handcuffs. He escaped by running into a housing estate.
The second incident occurred on 2 February 2001 when an offender was being escorted by prison staff from Waterford District Court to Cork Prison. Once again the offender was accompanied on the escort by three prison staff and he was handcuffed to one prison officer. The van transporting the offender was hijacked by a group of men who were in the possession of a firearm. The staff were forced to unlock the offender's handcuffs and the offender made his escape in a car accompanied by the hijackers. Thankfully, there were no injuries suffered by staff or members of the public in either incident. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda swiftly recaptured both escapees and I compliment it on its success in this respect.
Incidents such as those mentioned above are rare. The vast majority of escorts effected by prison officers are completed without incident. The level of security on prison escorts varies from those involving the Army, Garda and prison officers, for maximum security or subversive prisoners, to those with a low security rating. Security considerations play a major role in the arrangements for all escorts. The security level in each case is determined following consultations with the Garda. Other factors taken into account include the length of sentence left to serve, whether the prisoner is regarded as a serious escape risk and the potential risk to the community. These prisoners were not, at any stage prior to their escape, regarded as serious enough to warrant a Garda presence on their escorts.
Despite the most stringent precautions there will always be an element of risk associated with transporting prisoners outside the secure confines of a closed prison. I am concerned at any escape from custody. Following these recent incidents I have conferred with the director general of prisons in the matter. At my request he has established a formal review of current practices in this area with a view to reducing to the absolute practical minimum the risk of such escapes.
