Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
567. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of deaths in custody investigations which have been commenced by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons following the deaths of prisoners in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4681/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra568. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of deaths in custody investigations by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons which are ongoing; and the number finalised and submitted to him awaiting publication, by year of death, in tabular form. [4682/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 567 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, all deaths in custody and deaths that occur within one month of temporary release, are subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.
Following this investigation, the Inspector of Prisons Office makes recommendations for improvement where appropriate. These recommendations are forwarded to the Prison Service for their attention and the final report is submitted to the Minister for Justice. Finalised reports and any associated Prison Service Action Plan to address recommendations are published in an anonymised form on the Gov.ie website and made available to the Coroner.
The Office of the Inspector of Prisons in conducting their investigations seek to thoroughly explore and analyse all aspects of the case. As the Deputy will appreciate, this process can take time. In addition, as part of this process, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons engages with the next of kin of the person who has died.
I am advised that the Office of the Inspector of Prisons was notified of 23 Deaths in Custody (or within one month of temporary release) which occurred during 2022. The report in one case was published on 15 September, 2022. Investigation of all other cases is on-going.
The information sought by the Deputy relating to the number of death in custody investigations by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons which are ongoing; the number finalised and the number submitted to me and awaiting publication, by year of death, is contained in the Table below.
Two of three reports currently with my office were received in late 2022 with the final one received in early 2023. These reports are being considered and I expect to publish them shortly.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sympathies to the family and friends of all of those who died while in custody.
|
Year of Death |
Total No of Deaths |
Investigation On-going or Report at Draft Stage |
Report finalised and submitted to Minister, awaiting publication |
Number of Reports Published |
|
2019 |
20 |
1* |
1 |
18 |
|
2020 |
13 |
5* |
2 |
6 |
|
2021 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
|
2022 |
23 |
22* |
0 |
1 |
|
2023 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
*One Investigation in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2022 (included in the above figures) is on hold pending completion of a Garda Síochána investigation.
