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Prison Suicides in Irish Republic

01 November 1991

The Report of the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths in the Irish Republic was published on 10th October. The Group was established by Minister for Justice, Mr. Burke, following a number of suicides in Mountjoy prison in 1989. Between 1975 and 1990 there have been 23 suicides and 10 deaths from drug overdoses or 'natural causes' . Comparing the suicide rate with British figures, the report points out that the Republic has double the England and Wales prison suicide rate, and a rate which is 85% higher than the Scottish one.

Most of the suicides occur during "lock-up" (8pm to 8am) and are carried out by men under the age of 25, although there have been female suicides and the Report notes "there is a relatively high level of self-mutilation among female prisoners". Three- quarters of the recorded suicides were carried out by prisoners hanging themselves from cell window bars and the problem is evidently concentrated in Mountjoy jail, built in l850. Remand prisoners accounted for 35% of the suicides.

The Report makes 57 recommendations. It suggests that special precautions be taken with remand prisoners, such as increasing the availability of medical staff and the eventual building of a separate remand unit. Prisoners thought to be at risk should be kept in cells without window bars. The report also complains about the overcrowding in Mountjoy, poor sanitation and the lack of prison work. Facilities for "psychiatrically disturbed" prisoners need to be developed, says the Report, in such a way that they can be accommodated in a ward setting under 24 hour observation.

Irish Times 11.10.91.