On Thursday 24 July, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published a report on its 2024 visit to Ireland.
The CPT visited five prisons as well as the central psychiatric hospital, Oberstown children’s detention centre and Ballydowd special care unit.
While noting the implementation of a number of reforms since 2019 (improvement of infrastructure, reduction in the use of solitary confinement, extension of temporary release, virtual eradication of “slopping out” practices), the CPT remains highly critical.
It points to widespread prison overcrowding, worsening security in men’s prisons, inadequate mental health care, some ill-treatment and gaps in legal protection for some of the most vulnerable people, including mentally ill prisoners and young people in detention.
The visit to the central psychiatric hospital was generally positive, although major operational challenges remain, including legal obstacles to eventual discharge.
As regards children and young adults at Oberstown and Ballydowd, the CPT welcomes a “child-centred approach”, but deplores a lack of sufficient special care unit capacity at national level, resulting in the prolonged detention of young people awaiting appropriate placement.
Ireland’s response suggests a constructive dialogue with the CPT.
Link to the report: https://aeur.eu/f/hzr
Link to Ireland’s response: https://aeur.eu/f/hzs (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)