Prison - Need to acknowledge Punishment Block in Cork

international | crime and justice | opinion/analysis

Thursday November 02, 2006 21:33

by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice

Let us implement Mr. Justice Kinlan's Report forthwith

Sometime ago, retired Justice Kinlan wrote a damning report on our prisons. McDowell, Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, went into a 'huff'. He accused Justice Kinlan of being out to get him. The question remains:-

A young man was brutally murdered in a cell while five prisoners looked on. Six people sharing one cell.....this had to end in disaster at some stage.

Quotation
Checks and Balances - Muhummad Yunus Contemporary Bangladeshi Economist and founder of the Grameen Bank

It's not people who aren't credit-worthy
It's banks that aren't people-worthy

Debtors and debt.......there ought to be a different approach rather than Mountjoy.........Fado, one was sent to the debtor's prison - a different stigma but more equitable surely

Working for Simon for a number of years, in Galway, I have listened to young people and their descriptions of prison life. One young boy from Dublin aged 23 said to me 'I was in Mountjoy, I was doing 18 months for trespass; I was homeless but I got 18 months for intention to steal. While in Mountjoy, I had a row with a fellow inmate. I was transferred to Cork prison. I spent 10 weeks in a place called the BLOCK in Cork - it is a punishment wing'. Mr. Walsh, 'I ask you, would you survive in a vest and boxer shorts, a bible and one hours exercise a day.

Sometimes I listen to Governor Lonergan talk on the radio or television about Human Rights. He sanctioned my transfer. What about my human rights'?

I spent some years studying the prison system - 25% of people incarcerated are bipolar. There are only 10 beds available at Dundrum. In the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's, some of these people spent over 10 months in padded cells - against all Laws of the EU but yet sanctioned by Governor Lonergan.

Now I will tell you a short story. In Croke Park, in the 1940's, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's - The Artane Boys band paraded in Croke Park at the All Ireland Final Days - both Hurling and Football. Over 75,000 people attended and applauded. How many of those people including the Ministers, the Taoiseach, and the President sat knowing that most of these boys were sexually abused, at that time. We All know now, sadly.

Our prison system:
A friend of mine from Castlebar some years ago, his name is John, married with two kids. His business went down hill and he had debts of 28,000 punts. The Ulster Bank instructed the Court for an Order of Committal for one month. I went to college with this man. I found him honest, tall, gentle and kind. He spent his first week in Mountjoy prison.

When I visited him in Loughlin House I asked him - Did you see Governor Lonergan in Mountjoy before you were sent to Loughlin House? He said no.....I met this gentleman in uniform with three bars on his shoulder - his words were 'another thick culchie'. My friend John went to Mountjoy in a taxi accompanied by two Gardai. That cost the taxpayer at least 2,000 euros to facilitate Ulster Bank for committing a man to prison for an outstanding debt.

In his final weeks in Loughlin, the Governor was very kind and he helped John through a very good probation officer. Today, John has six taxi fleets in the west of Ireland and employs 22 people. Well Done John.......

In the last 10 years in Irish prisons, we have had over 19 suicides. 14 were men under 25 years old. I ask why? I ask who is in charge of the prison psychological sector relating to our young people who end up in prison. I ask in relation to all the research that is being carried out in Ireland presently and costing millions - Is it implemented or what happens to same.

The question is simple: Is our prison system working effectively and the answer is no it is not.

Over a year ago on John Bowman's Questions and Answer's - Governor Lonergan from Mountjoy was on the panel. A question came from the audience - 23 young men, members of the prison service......'Isn't time for change in Mountjoy? It was the first time I saw John Lonergan looking beweildered.

It is time people question 'The Block in Cork Prison' and its effects on our young people. We all know about the Garda corruption but let's see some humane equality in our prisons. Otherwise the outcome is chaos. I admire Justice Kinlan and his courage to speak out.

Kevin T. Walsh

Quotation
Checks and Balances - Muhummad Yunus Contemporary Bangladeshi Economist and founder of the Grameen Bank

It's not people who aren't credit-worthy
It's banks that aren't people-worthy

Debtors and debt.......there ought to be a different approach rather than Mountjoy.........Fado, one was sent to the debtor's prison - a different stigma but more equitable surely