[EN] Information provided by CPT following its visit to Ireland from 16 to 26 September 2014.The CPT’s delegation examined the conditions of detention and treatment of persons in prisons, including detained immigrants.

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Council of Europe anti-torture Committee visits Ireland

Strasbourg, 30.09.2014 – A delegation of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out a visit to Ireland from 16 to 26 September 2014. It was the CPT’s sixth periodic visit to Ireland.

The visit provided an opportunity to assess the progress made since the Committee’s 2010 visit. To this end, the CPT’s delegation examined the conditions of detention and treatment of persons in prisons, notably women prisoners. It also focused on the provision of health care, the application of good order measures and the recently introduced complaints system in prisons. The situation of juveniles in prison and in the Oberstown Detention Schools was also examined. Further, the delegation visited a number of police stations to look into the conditions of detention and the safeguards in place. It also looked at immigration detention.

In the course of the visit, the CPT’s delegation held talks with Frances FITZGERALD, Minister for Justice and Equality, Dr James REILLY, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Michael DONNELLAN, Director General of the Irish Prison Service, and Nóirín O’SULLIVAN, the Garda Siochana Commissioner (Interim). It also exchanged views with senior officials from the Ministries of Justice and Equality and of Children and Youth Affairs. The delegation further met with Simon O’BRIEN, Chairman of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, and Judge Michael REILLY, Inspector of Prisons, as well as with representatives of non-governmental organisations active in areas of concern to the CPT.

At the end of the visit, the delegation presented its preliminary observations to the Irish authorities.

The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:

Julia KOZMA (Austrian), Head of Delegation
Inga HARUTYUNYAN (Armenian)
Andrés MAGNUSSON (Icelander)
Costakis PARASKEVA (Cypriot)
Therese Maria RYTTER (Danish)
Olivera VULIC (Montenegrin).

They were supported by Hugh CHETWYND (Head of Division) and Dalia ŽUKAUSKIENĖ of the CPT’s Secretariat, and assisted by Alan MITCHELL, Former Head of Health Care, Scottish Prison Service (United Kingdom).

The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:

Police establishments
–           Castlerea Garda Station
–           Bridewell Garda station, Dublin
–           Coolock Garda station, Dublin
–           Kevin Street Garda station, Dublin
–           Mountjoy Garda station, Dublin
–           Pearse Street Garda station, Dublin
–           Santry Garda station, Dublin
–           Store Street Garda station, Dublin
–           Henry Street Garda station, Limerick
–           Ballymun Garda Station, Dublin
–           Dublin Airport Garda Station, Dublin

Penitentiary establishments
–           Castlerea Prison
–           Cloverhill Prison*
–           Dóchas Women’s Centre
–           Limerick Prison (female section)*
–           Midlands Prison*
–           Mountjoy Prison
–           Portlaoise Prison*
–           Wheatfield Prison*

Establishments under the Ministry of Children and Youth Affairs
–           Oberstown Detention Schools

*Targeted visits were carried out to these establishments.

See this article online: 

http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/irl/2014-09-30-eng.htm