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Sam Boal via RollingNews.ie

There have been 8 deaths in prison custody to date this year, and 100 deaths in 10 years

The figures to 1 October this year are down on the 15 deaths that occurred in Irish prisons last year.

EIGHT PRISONERS HAVE died in custody to date this year resulting in a total of 100 prisoners to have died in custody since 2010.

That is according to new figures provided by the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee where she reveals that all of the eight deaths in custody this year are male.

The figures provided by Minister McEntee in response to a written Dáil question from Independent TD Thomas Pringle show that in 2020 two deaths have occurred in Castlerea, two in Arbour Hill and one each at Cloverhill, Cork, Wheatfield and Limerick prisons.

  • Read more here on how you can support a major Noteworthy project to examine the level of overcrowding, medical treatment and access to resources in jails.

The figures to 1 October this year are down on the 15 deaths that occurred in Irish prisons last year.

The 2019 total included one female death at the Dóchas centre last year.

The 2019 statistics show that four deaths occurred in custody at the Midlands prison; three deaths at Arbour Hill prison and two at Wheatfield prison.

Minister McEntee confirmed that there were nine deaths in custody in 2018; nine in 2017, five in 2016; 15 in 2015; eight in 2014; nine in 2013; five in 2012; six in 2011 and 11 in 2010.

On the causes of death determined by a coroner in each case, Minister McEntee confirmed that 18 were classified as misadventure; 17 as suicide; 15 as natural causes; an open verdict in six; a narrative verdict in six, ‘deceased took own life’ in two and unlawful killing in one.

Minister McEntee stated that inquests are pending in relation to the remaining 35 deaths in custody.

One of those prisoners to die in custody is Keith Lee (42) who was accused of his murdering his estranged wife, Joanne Ball (38).

While on remand at Mountjoy prison, Lee was found dead in the bathroom of his cell on 12 April 2018; the Inspector of Prisons report was published into the death earlier this year.

The most recent death in custody concerns a 36 year old man who died at Cloverhill prison in Dublin after an incident on 28 September during which he was subjected to control and restraint techniques by prison officers.

Three separate investigations are underway into the prisoner’s death, from the Gardaí, the Inspector of Prisons, and the Irish Prison Service.

In her reply to Pringle, Minister McEntee stated that all deaths in custody are subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.

She stated: “The Irish Prison Service also has an internal review mechanism which assesses the circumstances of a death in custody, highlights accountability and outlines any actions to be taken in relation to the incident.”

Minister McEntee also confirmed that all deaths in custody are notified to the Gardaí and the cause of death is determined at the coroner’s court.

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    Mute Nioe
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    Oct 10th 2020, 7:37 AM

    Please sort out the crimes and anti social behaviour ruining the lives of so many law abiding citizens first.

    When life is good on the outside, then you can focus on the wellbeing of the criminals.

    Country is almost lawless.

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    Mute D Mems
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    Oct 10th 2020, 7:50 AM

    @Nioe: how is determining a cause of death focusing on the wellbeing of the criminals? They are dead, their wellbeing is going to be pretty rubbish for a while.

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    Mute Nioe
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    Oct 10th 2020, 9:15 AM

    @D Mems: No real harm but it shows where the priorities of our justice system are. Haven’t seen any justice minister even mentioning our victims of day to day crime. Shocking stories on a daily basis but nothing. No political party cares as not seen as a populous vote getter.

    Perpetrators of crime get more protection than the victims. Revolving door system of weak sentencing, reoffending and a feeding frenzy for the legal eagles.

    Meanwhile we the law abiding citizens pay with our taxes and our enjoyment of life.

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    Mute John R
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:09 AM

    @Nioe: Good populist rant. A lot of upticks as well. Amazingly, the Justice system can do several things at once including determining the cause of death of people in custody. And what’s wrong with that? Do you want people to die in custody without knowing the cause?

    Ireland doesn’t have a revolving door for prisoners by the way but whatever rocks your boat.

    17
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    Mute Nioe
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:18 AM

    @John R: no revolving door ? Lol.

    How are there so many skangers in their 20’s with 100+ convictions causing mayhem on our streets and when caught again getting concurrent sentences and large portions of their sentence suspended ? Then they are out for Christmas, weekends etc ? In and out of jail constantly.

    Joke of a system that criminals do not fear. Nothing populous about it unfortunately. It’s a fact of life for anyone living in a city or town.

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    Mute Paul Buckley
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:32 AM

    @Nioe: you would swear with your comment, that this was the only priority of the Minister for Justice., Law & Reform (for that is the proper name of the Dept.) The fact is that this report comes under the remit of the Dept. Of Justice, Law & Reform.

    There will be Statistic Reports of Victims of crime, and you will have heard such reports.

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    Mute D Mems
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:56 AM

    @Nioe: where does it state that determining the cause of death, which is done for law abiding citizens also, is a priority of the justice system or any political party? The minister was answering a specific question posed by an independent TD, it’s scrutiny and transparency what what we should be insistent upon in a democracy, not condemning. You are using the valid processes of a democracy to make a populist rant, but if that’s what it takes to make your Saturday morning I guess

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    Mute Ger
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    Oct 10th 2020, 6:03 PM

    @Nioe: by “first” you really mean instead of, right? You know it is possible to do two things at the same time. Or perhaps you can name this magical country somewhere in the world that has “sorted out their crime and anti social behaviour” and is now crime free.

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    Mute Dave Grant
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    Oct 10th 2020, 8:41 AM

    What makes Helen qualified to be the Minister for Justice? Was she a Barrister or Judge or Solicitor before being born to a Fine Gael TD?

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    Mute Trevor Branigan
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    Oct 10th 2020, 8:50 AM

    @Dave Grant: none of them are qualified. They’re the victors in a popularity contest. Hence all the advisers.

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    Mute D Mems
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    Oct 10th 2020, 8:57 AM

    @Dave Grant: she has a degree in Law from DCU.

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Oct 10th 2020, 9:29 AM

    @Dave Grant: What ever about Helen not actually ever having worked in the real world, Her party colleague Simon is the master of it for over 20 years feeding of the state.

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    Mute John R
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:11 AM

    @Dave Grant: It’s called democracy. It’s not an FG thing. If you have a problem with democracy then look at the alternatives. Do you see anything more attractive? Democracy isn’t perfect but then what system is.

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    Mute Canyon
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:29 AM

    @D Mems: not a pure law degree….Economics/Politics/law degree

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    Mute Paul Buckley
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:39 AM

    @Dave Byrne: Dail Eireann is part of the real world. It is your Dail & you are entitled to try and become a TD like anyone else… you are also entitled to request access to the Public Members gallery, Access is probably closed over Covid, but when normality is resumed, why dont you contact your Local TD & apply for a day pass during a Dail Session. That is how easy to see it as much a part of the real world.

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    Mute D Mems
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    Oct 10th 2020, 10:59 AM

    @Canyon: but a degree that includes an understanding of law regardless, perhaps not a sufficient level to be a solicitor or barrister, but higher than some of her predecessors in fairness.

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    Mute Link
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    Oct 10th 2020, 11:15 AM

    @Dave Grant: James Reilly is a doctor of medicine and the worst minister for health in my lifetime, so does the “qualification” count for anything in politics?

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    Mute Gerard Smith
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    Oct 10th 2020, 4:19 PM

    @Dave Grant: what makes her qualified is that she was elected to the house. Is in government and therefore eligible to be a minister if her party select her. This is how our political system has worked since the founding of the state. I’m surprised you dont know this. Shall we only allow people who have a 3rd level degree in politics to run for election? That is the logical progression of your point.

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    Mute oneforall
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    Oct 10th 2020, 8:12 AM

    Right that’s convinced me. Must stay out of prison.

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    Mute dublindamo
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    Oct 10th 2020, 8:46 AM

    How is deceased took own life different to suicide?

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    Mute FrustratedASDMum
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    Oct 10th 2020, 1:47 PM

    @dublindamo: That struck me too. Maybe it’s used when they can’t be sure the person meant to commit suicide? Or they believe the deceased didn’t intend to die but succeeded anyway? A cry for help that went wrong? I think misadventure is used when somebody kills themselves accidentally whilst behaving in a risky fashion so I would have thought a cry for help would be classed the same though. I don’t know, it’s a strange one.

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    Mute Ger
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    Oct 10th 2020, 6:06 PM

    @dublindamo: been trying to figure that one out myself and have come up with nothing

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    Mute Declan Ryan
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    Oct 10th 2020, 11:15 AM

    I can only imagine the eye watering cost of all of this to the tax payer.

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    Mute RO'S
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    Oct 10th 2020, 7:38 AM

    Thanks for this information.

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    Mute tirnanog1979
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    Oct 10th 2020, 7:57 AM

    @RO’S: teacher’s pet

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    Mute Hans Vos
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    Oct 10th 2020, 5:49 PM

    What’s the difference between suicide and diseased took their own life?

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