asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that Joseph O'Callaghan, of 2 McSwiney Street, Dundalk, who is at present undergoing sentence at Portlaoighise prison, has been deprived of his clothes and compelled to wear blankets; that for some considerable time this prisoner was deprived of any recreation whatever, and from the 1st June, this year, has been permitted recreation in a large room for only two hours in every 24 and forced to spend the remaining 22 hours in solitary confinement; and whether, having regard to the view of all authorities on penal administration that a long continuous period of solitary confinement is extremely detrimental both to the physical and psychical welfare of prisoners, he is prepared, on purely humanitarian grounds, to cause some alleviation of these unnecessary conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Treatment of Dundalk Prisoner.
Joseph O'Callaghan, who is serving a sentence of 14 years' penal servitude and lesser terms concurrently in Portlaoighise prison for armed robbery, unlawful wounding and unlawful possession of firearms, refuses to wear the prison clothes prescribed by the regulations for penal servitude prisoners. He wears instead garments improvised from blankets. On 1st June last it was decided to allow him and 13 other penal servitude prisoners, who also refused to wear prison clothes, to associate for one hour each morning and afternoon. This period was increased to one-and-a-half hours in the following month. I am not prepared to alleviate further the hardships which the prisoner is inflicting on himself by his refusal to obey the prison regulations.
Is the Minister aware that many people consider that the treatment of this prisoner is an unfair reflection on the State? Is he aware of the cruelty involved, particularly to the female dependents, such as the mother and the sister of this prisoner? Is he prepared to allow this continuous punishment to go on in this prison despite the fact that the man may have been sentenced for certain crimes? Is he not becoming vindictive in continuing this policy for such a prolonged period?
Mr. Boland
All I can say is that this man is a convicted prisoner. He was convicted of a very grievous offence, and I cannot allow him to break up prison discipline.