An inmate of Mountjoy Women's Prison who was found unconscious in her room on Monday night died in Dublin's Mater Hospital yesterday. A Prisons Service spokesman said she appeared to have suffered severe self-inflicted injuries.
It is the first time anyone has committed suicide at the new women's prison. It is believed the woman had made a number of attempts on her life in the past and had been under close observation by the prison's medical and psychiatric services during her short time in the prison. She was taken to the Mater but did not recover consciousness. She was on remand and had not been convicted of any offence.
The death will be investigated by the Garda and an inquest will be held. The circumstances will also be examined by the prison's Suicide Awareness Group.