Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1528. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners who died in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and if she will detail the cause of death in each case. [39915/22]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the information relating to the number of prisoners who died in the State in each of the last ten years and to date in 2022 is provided in the tables below.
The Irish Prison Service does not record the cause of death where the death occurred while the prisoner was outside the prison either on temporary release, renewable temporary release, full temporary release or unlawfully at large.
All deaths in custody are notified to An Garda Síochána, who investigate where circumstances warrant, in addition to the inquest held in the 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.
Further the Prison Service 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; Prison 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.
Table 1: Total Deaths in custody from 2012 to 27 June 2022 inclusive that took place while the prisoner was in Prison, outside the prison on Temporary Release, on Renewable Temporary Release, Full Temporary Release or Unlawfully at Large:
|
Year |
In Prison |
Temporary Release |
Renewable Temporary Release |
Full Temporary Release |
Unlawfully at large |
Annual Total |
|
2022 |
13 |
1 |
14 |
|||
|
2021 |
8 |
2 |
10 |
|||
|
2020 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
14 |
|
|
2019 |
14 |
1 |
6 |
21 |
||
|
2018 |
9 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
19 |
|
|
2017 |
10 |
4 |
14 |
|||
|
2016 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
||
|
2015 |
15 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
23 |
|
|
2014 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
15 |
||
|
2013 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
14 |
||
|
2012 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
18 |
||
|
Total |
104 |
34 |
31 |
1 |
2 |
172 |
Table 2: Deaths in Custody 2010 to 27 June 2022 inclusive classified by cause of death as determined by Coroner:
|
Year |
Suicide |
Deceased took his own life |
Misadventure |
Natural Causes |
Open |
Narrative Verdict |
Unlawful Killing |
Inquest Pending |
Annual Total |
|
2022 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
13 |
|
2021 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
|
2020 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
8 |
|
2019 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
14 |
|
2018 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
|
2017 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
|
2016 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
2015 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
15 |
|
2014 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
2013 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
|
2012 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Total |
13 |
2 |
11 |
18 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
49 |
104 |
