asked the Minister for Justice if he will disclose the findings of each of the following inquiries or investigations into allegations against prison staff and gardaí and the course of action taken in each case; (1) the Garda investigation into the disturbance in Mountjoy prison on 30 October 1983; (2) the internal inquiry into the drug overdose by ten prisoners in the women's prison, Mountjoy, on 8 November 1983; (3) the inquiry into the events in Mountjoy prison, beginning 30 October 1983, instituted in January 1984 and carried out by Dennis Mitchell, barrister; (4) the inquiry into the allegations of ill-treatment of prisoners in Portlaois prison on 30 October 1983; (5) the second inquiry into the Portlaoise allegations after a repeat of the allegations by officials of the Prison Officers' Association on 24 May 1984.
Written Answers. - Prison Services Inquiries.
Limerick East): The position is as set out below.
(1) There was no disturbance in Mountjoy prison on the date mentioned by the Deputy. I assume he is referring to the major disturbance which occurred on 5 November 1983. Legal proceedings are taking place arising from the investigation into this disturbance.
(2) I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 9 and 10 on the 13 March 1984 (Official Report Vol. 348). As that reply outlined, changes were made in the female prison arising from the incident which occurred. The general review to which I referred in that reply has resulted in some further changes being made in some institutions and is still continuing.
(3) I am at present considering the report which has only recently come to hand.
(4) & (5) The relevant Garda reports (which included the statements of those members of the Prison Officers Association who made allegations) were submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions who decided that there should be no criminal proceedings. Neither the Garda investigations nor a separate internal investigation provided grounds for disciplinary proceedings. I should point out that the second Garda investigation had been formally requested (by letter to the Garda Síochána) by the Governor of the prison on 16 May 1984 before public allegations of misconduct were made at the annual conference of the Prison Officers' Association.