An important part of the Irish prison story
10th November 2010
Yesterday I attended the 25th anniversary conference of
the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas, an important milestone for a
wonderful organisation and for an important part of the Irish prison story. At
any one time, between 800 and 1,000 Irish citizens are in foreign prisons.
This
group were the subject of intense public interest during the 1980s and 1990s,
when ultimately successful campaigns against miscarriages of justice
highlighted the vulnerability of Irish suspects and prisoners in Britain. But still
today, Irish citizens are significantly over-represented in the British prison
system, with Travellers particularly prevalent in this group. The isolation and
marginalisation suffered by this group, reflected in high rates of self-harm an
mental health problems, is a hidden but serious problem.
Founded by a small group including President MacAleese,
ICPO has been reaching out to this group tirelessly over 25 years and it was
incredibly impressive and moving to hear about the sacrifices and commitment of
people like Nuala Kelly and Fr. Gerry McFlynn who established a comprehensive
and essential service at a time when the cause of Irish prisoners in Britain in
particular was deeply unpopular.
Listening to the various speakers, a number of thoughts
occurred to me about the continuing relevance of ICPO’s work today:
- As an organ of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference, ICPO reaches out to prisoners of all religions and none around the
globe.The critical role that the
Catholic Church - and other religious groups such as the Quakers - have played in
prison reform at home in Ireland is still barely known. It is a real shame that the good work of
individual clergy and groups like the prison chaplains is not acknowledged more prominently.
- There is an important and growing issue
about Irish prisoners overseas being returned to this jurisdiction under the
Transfer of Sentenced Persons Convention. This Convention was introduced to allow prisoners to serve their time
near their loved ones and is an important and positive instrument to that end.
However, IPRT has been contacted by a number of prisoners who have availed of
this scheme only to find themselves serving longer time in Ireland because of
different remission rates.We are concerned
about this indirect effect of the scheme and will be raising it directly with
Government.
- One striking impression from the day was
the human stories about the appalling circumstances individuals can end up in
away from home - often being deprived of basic civil rights or being exposed to
torture. One speaker from Fair Trials International described gross
miscarriages of justice occurring in Europe as well as in Latin America and in
Asia. In that context it was interesting
to hear an international perspective on how Ireland is one of the few countries
which does not allow access to a lawyer during police questioning.
- Once again, when thinking of the Irish
emigrants who end up in trouble abroad, it is impossible not to be reminded of
the numbers of detainees in our industrial schools, orphanages and other
institutions who fled Ireland as damaged children and young adults and who
inevitably are among this group and who the Irish State historically
failed.
All in all, a great day of celebration of a real unsung
hero in the Irish NGO sector, who is continuing to work tirelessly for a very
vulnerable group of our emigrants.
Liam Herrick
