Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:12 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice the number of suicides in Mountjoy Prison in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountjoy Prison Deaths.
The number of deaths in custody in Mountjoy Prison for the years 1988 to 1993 was as follows: 1988, 2; 1989, 3; 1990, 2; 1991, 4; 1992, 1; and 1993, 1.
I gave the Dáil a detailed statement on the issue of prison deaths in reply to a similar parliamentary question on 24 February and I would refer the Deputy to the record of the House in that respect.
Mountjoy Prison is the main committal prison in this jurisdiction. More prisoners go through it every year than the rest of our custodial institutions combined. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that a high proportion of the deaths in prison custody have taken place there. The Governor and staff of Mountjoy have shown exceptional commitment to suicide prevention and all the measures mentioned in my reply of 24 February are fully in force there.
Is the Minister concerned about the continuing evidence not only about suicides but about attempted suicides in our prisons, some of which our attention has been drawn to by the statistics of the prisons themselves? For example, the 189 incidents last year amount to almost one incident for every ten prisoners in the State. Will the Minister say how many of the recommendations of the advisory group on prison suicides have been implemented in full?
To put death in custody figures in context it should be noted that more than 6,000 prisoners go through the prison system every year and in 1991 one such suicide occurred. The advisory group on prison deaths published their report in August 1991 and so far 50 of their 57 recommendations have been implemented.
Of the 50 recommendations that have been implemented, how many have been implemented in full? I understand that some of the recommendations have not been implemented in total.
I do not have the exact figure but some of the more important ones are the 24 hour a day medical orderly cover in closed institutions; an increase in the number of clinical psychologists from three to six initially including a female psychologist to cover the women's prison; the installation of cell call systems with which distressed prisoners may summon help; the introduction of a service by the Samaritans in all institutions and the availability of cordless telephones to enable prisoners to contact the Samaritans on designated telephone lines; special training courses for prison staff; the establishment of a suicide prevention group in each institution to review suicide attempts and ensure appropriate action is taken at local level; training in the use of resuscitation equipment; employment of a pharmacist; revision of the 1947 Rules for the Government of Prisons; improvements in GP services and the provision of in-cell sanitation, which is a seven year programme as the Deputy is aware. The remaining recommendations are more long term in nature as was recognised by the advisory group when it reported. They include the provision of a new female prison and a committal assessment centre with a level of services appropriate to them. The recommendations which have not been implemented will be addressed in the overall developments taking place within the prison system.
Will the Minister give the statistics for prison suicide during the years 1988 to 1993? I believe the statistics she gave related to suicides in Mountjoy. What kind of pastoral care is available for prisoners in such desperation?
I gave the figures to the Deputy on 24 February. They are: five in 1988, five in 1989, five in 1990, three in 1991 and four in 1992. Every effort is made by the governor and staff of each custodial institution to ensure that pastoral care is available when a prisoner requests such care.
Did the Minister say on 24 February that no record of attempted suicide was kept because of the difficulty of distinguishing between serious and non-serious attempts? Is this justified given that more women are prone to suffer from depression and self-inflicted injury in prison given their type of criminality and the fact that they are separated from their children? Would she agree that it is essential to keep a record of attempted suicides in order to monitor the mental health of the inmates?
The Deputy is correct in saying that records are not kept of attempted suicide because there are many instances of self-inflicted injury which would be difficult to distinguish from deliberate suicide attempts. All groups, including the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Women's Rights, agree the need for a dedicated women's prison which would need less security than that in Mountjoy. As the Deputy knows there is an advisory group dealing with that issue. I am looking at the possibility of establishing a hostel for women who have difficulty but who are not suitable for, or whose crime might not warrant, a custodial sentence.