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FIVE INMATES DIED in the custody of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) last year, records released under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed.
The cause of death in all five cases has yet to be determined by a coroner. Inquests will be held later this year, and investigations will also be carried out by the inspector of prisons.
It brings the number of prisoners who have died in custody to 105 since 2005, while dozens more have died on temporary release from Irish jails.
Decrease
The five deaths that occurred in detention centres last year represents a marked decrease compared to the number of fatalities recorded during the previous year, however.
A total of 14 prisoners died in custody in 2015, while a further eight inmates died while on temporary release from the State’s network of 14 prisons and places of detention that year.
The number of prisoners who died while on temporary release during 2016, if any, is not yet available.
Of the 105 fatalities that occurred in prison custody since 2005, 16 have been classified as death by suicide; while the cause of death has yet to be determined pending inquests in at least 25 cases.
A total of eight prisoners died in custody in 2014, nine died in 2013, five died in 2012, and six deaths were recorded in 2011. Some 20 prisoners died on temporary release in the three years prior to 2016.
Investigation
Since 2012, the death of any prisoner in custody or on temporary release is subject to an independent investigation by the inspector of prisons. Each prison also has a local suicide prevention group that examines the circumstances of each death and makes recommendations.
A spokesperson for the IPS said that every death, as well as every incident of self-harm, is examined by the suicide prevention group in the relevant prison.
The groups are chaired by prison governors and include doctors, psychiatrists, and chaplains.
“Their examinations fully cover the background and circumstances of each death. Their objective is to identify, where possible, measures which might be implemented to contribute to a reduction in the risk of deaths in future,” the IPS said.
In addition, the National Suicide and Harm Prevention Steering Group… provides a forum for collating the reports of the local suicide prevention committees and disseminating significant findings throughout the prison system.
“The reports of the inspector of prisons are also considered in detail by the IPS and action plans are developed with regard to the implementation of the recommendations. Prison staff are regularly reminded of the need to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols.
“Any failure to adhere to SOPs is investigated by the governor, and the governor will then take appropriate action including disciplinary action if required,” the spokesperson added.
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9 of the 12 Irish MEPs supported the position of the Irish Air Line Pilots Association.
Europe has disregarded the advice of its own scientific advisors, and missed out on an opportunity to produce scientifically based rules in favour of commercial interests.
It’s a sad day for aviation safety!
I thought pilots could only fly a maximum of 900 hours per year , why does the above say a reduction from 1300 hours to 1000 hours?
What was advice?
Does this not mean shorter working year for pilots? Good for FTE bad for contract?
Once again those unaccountable pen pushers delve into industries they know nothing about, this is bad for passengers and pilots alike. The winners are arsehole airline management who will award themselves bonuses and politicians creating busywork for themselves. All the scientifically based rest and ftl rules go in the bin.
Pilot can fly for 11 hours, truck driver can only drive a max of 10. Somethings not well thought out.
but in fairness no auto pilot on a truck and only one driver
At least if a truck has an emergency just pull over to the side of the road not the same for aircraft . And some air operations are single pilot.
And a doctor can work for 36 hours.
Commercial airlines have few single pilot. Do ialpa want hours flying even lower … is that why they object?
If you understood what commercial flying is, you would know that all commercial pilots operating with companies with an AOC are bound by JAR-FCL which is the same as airline pilots.
You are correct I don’t know the technical definition of commercial as I don’t work in the industry. But as a layman reading the article my take is that iapla want even further reductions and restrictions on flying time which would require more pilots to run a schedule. No doubt a pay cut isn’t part of their plans. Contract pilots likely to increase at progressive airlines. One layman’s view only.
Have the airline pilots been asked for their opinion on the rule changes and if not why not, judging by their negative reaction it seems not, but now the EU have once again gone ahead and changed the rules without consultation.
So the cost will just go up
What people have to remember regarding pilots hours is they are calculated from off blocks (plane pushed off stand) to on blocks plane arrives at the gate.
You then need to factor in taxi delays ATC flow restrictions,Turn around times of the aircraft and also the pre flight which normally is 1 hour prior to departure+post flight debriefing.
Worst case: try driving your family laden car up rough slippery track into your unlit garage at speed on a dark wet night after 11 hours on the road…
I hope the people that brought this in will be on board when the accident happens, pure madness
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