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Gnáthamharc

Suicide Incidence.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004

Wednesday, 10 November 2004

Ceisteanna (128)

Dan Neville

Ceist:

175 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the UK authorities the issue of suicides of Irish persons in the United Kingdom since 1999; the number of persons who died by suicide; and the prisons at which these took place. [28312/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department, through the Irish ambassador in London, made strong representations to the prison authorities in London following the deaths of seven people, of Irish nationality or of Irish descent, between 1998 and 2002 in HMP Brixton. Subsequently, the governor of HMP Wandsworth was asked to conduct a review of all non-natural deaths in custody in HMP Brixton from 1998 onwards.

The review team published its findings, known as the Heavens report, in June 2003. The report concluded, inter alia, that, in some of these cases, policies and procedures were not properly carried out and that, in some instances, actions were taken that were not in accordance with the prison’s suicide prevention policy. It also noted there was no evidence to indicate that any of these deaths was as a result of prejudice against the men because of their Irish nationality or descent.

Shortly after the publication of the report, a new prison governor was appointed at Brixton drawn from the prisons services inspectorate. Following the appointment, an officer from the embassy met the governor and the director general of the prison services and was assured that both were committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the report. Since then, the embassy has had regular contacts with the new governor and his staff about the report and the implementation of its recommendations as well as other prison matters. The Irish ambassador has also met the relatives and friends of the people involved to discuss the findings of the report.

Since the report's publication, the embassy has not been notified of further deaths of Irish citizens in HMP Brixton but I assure the Deputy that my Department, through the embassy, will continue to monitor the situation closely.

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