Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Jun 1988

Vol. 382 No. 5

Written Answers. - Prison Deaths.

67.

Mr. McCartan

asked the Minister for Justice if he will list the deaths of persons in prison or Garda custody over the past five years; if, in the case of each death, he will give the verdict of the coroner's inquest; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Collins)

The following is a list of persons who died in prison or Garda custody since June 1983:

Name	Date of Death	Prison or Garda Custody	Verdict of Coroner's inquest
Martin Beatty	12/9/83	Garda	A. Cerebral Anoxia.
			B. Self Inflicted neck compression.
			C. Suspension by a noose.
Luke Dowling	4/11/83	Garda	Asphyxia due to suspension or hanging in a cell.
Bridget Delaney	4/3/84	Garda	Respiratory depression secondary to Ethol alcohol intoxication.
Hugh Blaney	8/9/84	Garda	Coronary.
Christopher Gamble	4/10/85	Prison	Death due to cardio respiratory failure due to dextromoramide toxicity self administered at Mountjoy Prison.
John Scully	10/11/85	Prison	Death was caused by asphyxia due to hanging.
Thomas Coughlan	23/12/85	Prison	Hypovalaemic shock in association with lacerations of the left brachial vein.
Paul Kenna	17/1/86	Prison	Death caused by asphyxia due to suspension (hanging) self enacted at a cell in Mountjoy Prison.
James Keegan	26/9/86	Garda	1a. Asphyxia and cerebal anoxia.b. Hanging.
Anthony McEnroe	7/10/86	Garda	Pulmonary oedema and haemorrhage due to aspiration of stomach contents resulting from alcohol and methadone interaction.
Brendan McLoughlin	26/7/87	Prison	Death from asphyxia due to hanging self enacted at St. Patrick's Institution. Death regarded by the Coroner as accidental.
Philip McGrath	12/2/88	Prison	Cardiac and respiratory failure due to hanging.
Michael McGowan	16/4/88	Prison	Inquest not held to date.
Kevin McDonagh	18/4/88	Prison	Inquest not held to date.
John Ryan	13/6/88	Prison	Inquest not held to date.

It is hardly necessary to say that the deaths which occur from time to time in custody are a matter of very deep regret and that every effort is made to ensure the safety of persons committed to custody. It is, however, an unfortunate truth, which should be appreciated, that there can be no guarantee that the best efforts of the authorities in this regard will always be successful.