The authorities in Mountjoy Prison should consider searching the cells of prisoners under special observation before they are returned from court appearances and other visits outside the prison, a coroner's jury has recommended.
This followed a verdict of death by misadventure on Mark Valentine, of Carrickmount Drive, Rathfarnham, Dublin, who died in the Mater Hospital on March 29th, 1996 after he was found collapsed in his cell. The jury in Dublin Coroner's Court also found he had died as a result of a heroin overdose which brought about a toxic reaction or a respiratory depression.
The court was told on the day before his death he had been brought back from court where he had been sentenced to three years. He was searched and nothing was found.