Prison inspections thwarted by inadequate resources
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Patricia Gilheaney
The Inspector of Prisons, Patricia Gilheaney, has warned that regular prison inspections are not taking place because of inadequate resources.
In half of Ireland’s ten closed prisons, no inspections have been conducted in a decade, Ms Gilheaney told Today with Sean O’Rourke, the Irish Examiner reports.
No inspections have been conducted on Cork, Portlaoise, Midlands, Cloverhill and Wheatfield prisons, she said.
Ms Gilheaney blamed the failure to conduct regular inspections, as required by law, on a lack of resources and said her office “did not appear to be fit for purpose” when she assumed the position last year.
She noted that the inspectorate has four staff and a budget of €496,000, despite playing a key role in investigating prisoner deaths as well as inspecting prisons.
Over the last five years, there have been 75 deaths in prisons or involving prisoners on temporary release.
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