Prison Service

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (1233)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1233. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who died while in prison in each of the past ten years; and if a breakdown can be provided on the causes of death in tabular form. [1016/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that the information relating to the number of persons who died while in custody and the cause of their deaths for the period 2011 to date is provided in the tables below.

All deaths in custody are the subject to a Garda investigation and subsequently an inquest is held in a Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Coroner’s Court.

The Deputy will also be aware that since April 2012 all deaths in custody are also subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.

The Irish Prison Service also has a robust, internal review mechanism which assesses the circumstances of a death in custody, highlights accountability and actions taken in relation to the incident, and outlines lessons learned. This outcome review is reported to the Irish Prison Service National Suicide and Harm Prevention Steering Group, which is chaired by the Director General.

The circumstances of each death in custody and incident of self-harm are also examined by a suicide prevention group in each institution. The groups are chaired by the Prison Governor, and include representatives from the various services including; Doctor, Psychiatry, Psychology, Chaplaincy, Probation, Education, and Prison staff. The Groups are required to meet quarterly, or more often if necessary. Their examinations fully cover the background and circumstances of each death. Their objective is to identify, where possible, measures which might be implemented to contribute to a reduction in the risk of deaths in the future.

Death in custody 2011 to 15 January 2022 classified by cause of death as determined by the Coroner

Date of Death	Establishment	Cause of Death as determined by Coroner
2022
15/01/2022	Cork Prison	Inquest Pending
05/01/2022	Mountjoy	Inquest Pending
03/01/2022	Mountjoy	Inquest Pending

2021
16/11/2021	Midlands	Inquest Pending
02/10/2021	Cork	Inquest Pending
12/08/2021	Midlands	Inquest Pending
12/08/2021	Cloverhill	Inquest Pending
03/08/2021	Midlands	Inquest Pending
27/04/2021	Cloverhill	Inquest Pending
17/02/2021	Cork	Inquest Pending
01/01/2021	Wheatfield	Inquest Pending


2020
15/11/2020	Limerick	Inquest Pending
07/10/2020	Cork	Inquest Pending
28/09/2020	Cloverhill	Inquest Pending
19/07/2020	Limerick	Inquest Pending
14/07/2020	Castlerea	Inquest Pending
26/04/2020	Castlerea	Inquest Pending
10/04/2020	Arbour Hill	Inquest Pending
11/03/2020	Wheatfield	Inquest Pending
10/03/2020	Arbour Hill	Inquest Pending
12/02/2020	Cork	Inquest Pending

2019
27/12/2019	Midlands	Natural Causes
16/12/2019	Cloverhill	Inquest Pending
09/12/2019	Cloverhill	Inquest Pending
23/11/2019	Cloverhill	Inquest Pending
01/08/2019	Wheatfield	Inquest Pending
27/07/2019	Midlands	Natural Causes
10/07/2019	Arbour Hill	Inquest Pending
27/06/2019	Limerick	Inquest Pending
24/06/2019	Cork	Inquest Pending
25/05/2019	Portlaoise	Natural Causes
23/03/2019	Wheatfield	Inquest Pending
16/03/2019	Mountjoy	Inquest Pending
05/02/2019	Midlands	Inquest Pending
27/01/2019	Midlands	Inquest Pending

2018
14/11/2018	Midlands	Natural Causes
30/10/2018	Midlands	Natural Causes
19/07/2018	Cork	Misadventure
25/06/2018	Mountjoy	Inquest Pending
14/06/2018	Midlands	Inquest Pending
12/04/2018	Mountjoy	Inquest Pending
04/02/2018	Wheatfield	Natural Causes
29/01/2018	Cork	Suicide
10/01/2018	Mountjoy	Inquest Pending

2017
11/10/2017	Cloverhill	Suicide
16/09/2017	Wheatfield	Inquest Pending
06/05/2017	Limerick	Open Verdict
13/04/2017	Cork	Suicide
25/03/2017	Mountjoy	Misadventure
19/03/2017	Midlands	Natural Causes
06/03/2017	Midlands	Inquest Pending
03/01/2017	Mountjoy	Open Verdict
03/01/2017	Cork	Natural Causes

2016
04/12/2016	Mountjoy	Suicide
25/11/2016	Midlands	Natural Causes
05/10/2016	Wheatfield	Narrative
21/08/2016	Portlaoise	Suicide
13/02/2016	Mountjoy	‘Deceased took his own life.’

2015
31/10/2015	Cloverhill	Narrative
13/10/2015	Midlands	Suicide
08/10/2015	Mountjoy	Natural Causes
09/09/2015	Midlands	Misadventure
05/09/2015	Midlands	Natural Causes
14/08/2015	Castlerea	Open Verdict
28/07/2015	Portlaoise	Inquest Pending
15/07/2015	Dochas Centre	Narrative
09/07/2015	Arbour Hill	Natural Causes
13/06/2015	Cloverhill	Misadventure
16/05/2015	Cork	Unlawful Killing
09/05/2015	Midlands	Misadventure
08/05/2015	Mountjoy	Misadventure
09/04/2015	Midlands	Natural Causes
10/03/2015	Mountjoy	‘Deceased took his own life.’


2014
27/12/2014	Limerick	Misadventure
24/12/2014	Wheatfield	Misadventure
07/11/2014	Wheatfield	Natural Causes
04/10/2014	Mountjoy	Narrative
26/08/2014	Cloverhill	Open
26/07/2014	Mountjoy	Misadventure
27/06/2014	Mountjoy	Suicide
22/04/2014	Mountjoy	Suicide

2013
29/12/2013	Wheatfield	Natural Causes
05/12/2013	Castlerea	Inquest Pending
11/10/2013	Limerick	Open Verdict
14/09/2013	Mountjoy	Death by Suicide
30/08/2013	Mountjoy	Death by Misadventure
10/05/2013	Cork	Suicide
06/05/2013	Wheatfield	Natural Causes
16/04/2013	Mountjoy	Death by Suicide
12/02/2013	Midlands	Inquest Pending

2012
02/12/2012	Mountjoy	Suicide
04/04/2012	Mountjoy	Misadventure
30/01/2012	Midlands	Natural Causes
21/01/2012	Limerick	Open
17/01/2012	Mountjoy	Suicide

2011
20/12/2011	Cloverhill	Suicide
10/12/2011	Shelton Abbey	Misadventure
19/07/2011	Wheatfield	Narrative Verdict
23/05/2011	Mountjoy	Misadventure
25/03/2011	Wheatfield	Misadventure
03/03/2011	Castlerea	Misadventure