17th June 2010
The story this week, of a mentally ill woman being forcibly removed from the Dóchas Centre, has brutally illustrated the truth behind the words of former governor Kathleen McMahon.
The case concerns a woman removed from prison despite desperate protestations, after having served just four weeks of a six-month sentence. The woman, who has a history of self-harm and previous stays in psychiatric facilities, was also homeless and addicted to drugs. These compelling factors did not prevent the Irish Prison Service from ordering her removal, against the advice of prison staff, resulting in a physically arduous eviction, leaving the woman, as the Irish Times reports, ‘on the pavement outside’. Removed against her will, and with no time for forward planning, the situation is in marked contrast to the women-centric approach used in McMahon’s time, when release dates could be delayed in order to ensure women had somewhere to go when they were released.
Reintegration is hopeless if this is how prisoners are turned out. How often does this happen but remain under the radar? Had it not been for this particular woman’s protestations, which marked the case as bound for the public domain, this incident would have gone without notice.
The great hopes of the Dóchas Centre are being undermined by overcrowding and a failure to treat each individual who enters as someone worthy of invested time and planning.
The incident provokes questions about the ability of the Dóchas Centre to fulfil its original intentions under such conditions, prompting inquiries by the Dóchas Centre visiting committee and an internal inquiry by the Irish Prison Service. Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, may also look into the matter. It has also ignited a new policy that forbids the early release of mentally ill prisoners.
Former governor Kathleen McMahon had warned that control would continue to be centralised and taken out of the hands of those on the ground. The Dóchas Centre was designed with the intention that real progress could be made while inside. It is unlikely whether this is currently possible, it is also in question whether this remains a priority.
* This week's blog entry was prepared by Lynsey Black, one of our two current interns.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.