Penal reform group publishes report on older people in prison

The report makes a series of recommendations related to physical and mental health needs, mobility, social care, bullying, release planning and participation in prison programmes.

According to last year’s figures, older people make up almost 10 per cent of the Irish prison population.

In their introduction, the report authors state: “Older people are a particularly vulnerable group within Irish prisons and their needs differ greatly from those of the general prison population.

“They face a wide range of issues which relate to serious physical and mental health needs, mobility problems, the need for social and personal care, bullying and victimisation, difficulties accessing prison programmes, and issues regarding release and resettlement.”

The report welcomes the Irish Prison Service’s commitment to finalise and implement an Older Prisoner Strategy.

It also states that the development of the strategy should include “a wider debate about the appropriateness of detaining old and seriously ill people in a prison environment, particularly those living with dementia or other terminal illnesses”.

Senator David Norris launched the report at a meeting in Dublin this morning, which also heard from co-author Joanna Joyce, Justin Moran of Age Action Ireland, and barrister Patrick Gageby SC.