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The Journal
24-07-2025
- The Journal
Unreasonable force by prison officers and falsified records at Cloverhill Prison, report finds
A REVIEW OF the treatment of prisoners in Ireland by Europe's human rights watchdog has highlighted two cases in Cloverhill Prison in Dublin where inmates were improperly subdued with excessive force. Its report from Ireland details how the flow of drugs in Irish prison, along with extreme and record levels of overcrowding , is creating a dangerous and difficult working and living environment for staff and inmates. A team frmo the Council of Europe visited five prisons in Ireland last year – Castlerea, Cloverhill, Limerick (male and female), the Dóchas centre and Mountjoy Prison High Support Unit - as part of ongoing reviews into the treatment of prisoners internationally. Serious incident complaints, known in the Irish Prison Service as Category A complaints, were filed to management in both cases at Cloverhill, so that the conduct of the officers could be reviewed. One of these accusations had been upheld at the time of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture's visit last year. Its subsequent report notes that, in two separate incidents, officers were seen 'jumping on the heads' of inmates. Experts conducting the review had serious concerns over the treatment of prisoners and deaths which have taken place at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin in recent years. During one incident in July 2023, a prisoner was being restrained by a number of officers 'in a relatively peaceful manner' at Cloverhill when another officer intervened in the restraint and proceeded to 'jump on the head' of the man in the yard of the prison. A review of the CCTV footage reportedly shows the officer pulling and holding the head of the prisoner, according to the Council of Europe report. The prisoner later alleged that 'unnecessary and unreasonable force was used' to bring him into the prison and that he put into a 'guillotine' hold. He claimed that he received injuries to his torso, back and to the upper part of his spine during the ordeal. An investigation into the incident only upheld that unnecessary and unreasonable force was used to remove him from the yard. Members of the torture prevention committee have voiced concerns as two of the officers involved in the incident were kept in 'direct contact' with prisoners throughout the investigation into the Category A complaint. Advertisement Inmate allegedly 'kicked and punched in cell' In a separate case at the same prison one month before, an inmate claimed he was forcibly placed into his cell before officers allegedly 'kicked him and punched his body, while he was prone on the ground'. The prisoner was being relocated to a different wing of the prison, when he alleged he was beaten in the landing, and accused one of the officers of attempting to strangle him and drag him by his hair. He alleged that he began bleeding from his mouth and his nose before he was moved again, punched and then verbally abused. The investigation into the incident had yet to conclude at the time of the Council of Europe's visit. However, internal documents and CCTV footage relating to the incident was reviewed as part of the Council of Europe's investigation. Its report states that the footage 'appeared to suggested that unnecessary and disproportionate force may well have been applied'. It added: 'CCTV coverage shows that a prison officer jumps on the head of the prisoner [...] pulling his head down and puts the prisoner on the floor.' The Council of Europe has recommended that Cloverhill management have an increase in presence in detention areas and staff 'demonstrate increased vigilance' in their direct contact with prisoners. It has also called for effective investigations of complaints made by prisoners and improved staff training, including a transparent selection procedure and restraint training. In its response, the Irish government said: 'The Irish Prison Service engage with and supports prison management and in particular those staff with the HR portfolio in the implementation of the Disciplinary Code. 'Ongoing support is also provided to management and staff in regard to the implementation of the Disciplinary Code,' it added. It also said that, in order to 'ensure greater visibility' of senior members of prison staff on landings, 'arrangements are being put in place to provide Chief Officers with administrative support'. Deaths at Cloverhill The Council of Europe also reviewed the deaths of four prisoners, which took place between 2020 and 2023, that it believes were preventable. Two of these fatalities happened at Cloverhill Prison. Both deaths took place in close supervision cells, designed to for prisoners who are a danger to others or are disruptive, in the opinion of prison management. One man, who died in April 2021, had been placed in the cell the day before after he was accused of concealing illegal drugs internally. He had not been reviewed by healthcare staff, the report states. Related Reads How does Ireland's prison overcrowding crisis compare to other European countries? Court escorts for prisoners at risk due to overcrowding, Irish prisons boss warns Fears within prison service that prison overcrowding increasing risk of violence and rioting The torture prevention committee had 'serious reservations' around the quality of internal documents relating to all four deaths. A logbook for the wing shows that the prisoner was asleep between 9.10pm the night before and 8.30am the morning of the death, but another prison officer claimed to have attended the cell between 9pm and 2am after the man activated a bell. The report said: 'The Committee finds it incongruous that one prison officer can set out that he attended a cell several times during the night, and yet another prison officer records in the CSC book that every 15 minutes during the night the prisoner was checked and was asleep.' The prisoner was found dead when the cells were unlocked in the morning on 27 April 2021 and that rigor mortis was noted, 'clearly indicating that he had been dead for some time before he was found'. 'Deeply troubled by the falsification of records' Another prisoner was found dead on the morning of 10 August 2022. He had been placed in a closed supervision cell 'because he was mentally ill, rather than because he had been disruptive in the prison', the report said. Documentation details that the man had no had anything to eat or drink for 48 hours before his death. The report said it is 'deeply concerned' that there was no care plan for the man, 'who was clearly mentally ill', had not eaten and was placed in the cell. Similarly to the case before, the logbook was also not reflective of the morning's events. A review of the document found that it said the cell belonging to the man was checked every 15 minutes for almost 30 minutes after he died. The report said the entries were clearly 'made in advance of him being found dead'. It said that the committee was 'deeply troubled by the falsification of records by prison officers'. It has recommended that a review be conducted into the procedures following the deaths of prisoners in Irish prisons so that documents such as autopsy reports and accurate time sheets are included in an inmate's file. It also recommended that analysis be undertaken of each death to identify general lessons that can be learnt from the incidents. In its response, the Irish government said it has begun the work to fulfil some of the review's recommendations. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
24-07-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Serious problems remain in Irish prisons, report finds
Serious problems remain in Irish prisons, according to a new report. The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture found that while certain reforms have been implemented, there continues to be pervasive overcrowding, worsening safety levels in men's prisons and inadequate mental healthcare in Irish prisons. The Committee for the Prevention of Torture visited five prisons, as well as at the Central Mental Hospital, the Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the Ballydowd Special Care Unit, last year. They noted a number of positive developments since their previous visit in 2019, including improvements to prison infrastructure, less use of segregation, greater scope for temporary release and the virtual eradication of "slopping out" practices. However, the committee called on the Irish authorities to take concrete actions to address a number of critical issues. They found that physical safety in male prisons had deteriorated sharply. The report found that violence between prisoners was widespread and allegations of prisoner abuse by staff had increased since 2019, particularly in Cloverhill and Limerick Prisons. The committee said it received several allegations of excessive force being used by staff during operations to control, restrain and relocate prisoners. The report said what was equally concerning was a pattern of preventable deaths in custody, notably among prisoners suspected of concealing drugs inside their bodies, and a lack of reviews to prevent such tragedies from recurring. Overcrowding also remains a chronic issue, with many single or double cells packed with three or four inmates, "sometimes in squalid conditions". The report found that prisoners held in restricted segregation for protection reasons were often spending up to 23 hours a day locked in their cells, which the CPT said may amount to inhuman and degrading treatment. The committee also found that the provision of mental healthcare in prison remains critically deficient and underlined that prisons are fundamentally inappropriate places for people with severe mental illness. Regarding children and young adults, the report found that Ireland lacks sufficient capacity in special care units, resulting in prolonged detention for young persons awaiting appropriate placement. It found that reintegration efforts for young offenders were undermined by the absence of step-down or temporary release programs. Responding to the report, the Government welcomed the acknowledgement of progress on operational reforms but acknowledged that the country was experiencing significant challenges with regard to prison capacity. It said a number of steps were taken to address the issue, including legislation to increase the use of Community Service Orders and Restorative Justice referrals. It said 134 new prison spaces had been delivered since last year and a further 100 would be added this year, with the programme for Government promising to increase capacity by 1,500 in total. The Government said the Irish Prison Service would take steps to address the issues raised by the report and seek to implement its recommendations where possible. "Irish authorities have provided a detailed response outlining how they intend to address the recommendations made by the Committee in each of the areas covered by the report, including prisons, children's establishments and the Central Mental Hospital. "The Committee will be engaging in constructive dialogue with the Irish authorities on these matters going forward," the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture said.
