asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that a number of farmers while being arrested and taken to jail have been made to undergo the indignity of being handcuffed; if he will explain the circumstances in which this occurred; and if he will ensure that it will not happen again.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Handcuffing of Farmers.
33.
I have been informed by the Commissioner, Garda Síochána, that press reports and pictures published of two handcuffed men walking into prison under escort related to persons other than members of the NFA.
Can the Minister assure the House that no member of the NFA was in fact handcuffed?
I can assure the House only in relation to the circumstances of the particular incident to which widespread attention was drawn and to which a considerable amount of publicity was given in the newspapers during the weekend. I had that incident specifically closely investigated. Whereas the NFA men had gone into the prison freely and in good humour earlier on, the NFA people who happened to be outside looking on saw two handcuffed men who had been apprehended in respect of a criminal offence and were being brought in as prisoners. The incident was given a considerable amount of publicity and was used as a form of propaganda for days.
Does the Minister give the assurance to the House that no member of the NFA was handcuffed while being brought to prison?
All I can say is that as far as I am concerned no member of the NFA was handcuffed on this particular occasion, which, as I have told the Deputy, I have had specifically closely investigated. It got considerable publicity during the weekend and was used by NFA spokesmen for propaganda purposes.
I have not put down this question in relation to a specific incident. It is a general question.
I cannot give a guarantee in relation to every case or any case, only in regard to a specific case which arose by reason of widespread publicity and because of allegations made against the Garda in respect of an incident in Limerick. As I have said, I had that case specifically investigated and it turned out that the allegations were entirely unfounded and that the men concerned were ordinary criminals under arrest.
Can the Minister say in what circumstances are handcuffs used——
Handcuffs are used only in the case of prisoners being apprehended, be they NFA or any other type of prisoners, if the Garda feel such prisoners are in danger of being freed or in a mood to run away or to escape custody in any other way. If the Garda fear there may be an escape from custody, they are at liberty to use handcuffs.
Did such circumstances exist in relation to any of these prisoners?
I cannot give a guarantee that circumstances might not arise in which handcuffs would have to be used. I can only give an assurance to the House in respect of the specific case which I had fully investigated. The facts are as I have told the House.