Madam, – A great deal of the correspondence received by your paper after the publication of the Ryan report expressed the hope that the events which occurred and the conditions in which these children were required to live should never be allowed to happen again. However I would ask that your writers and indeed the Government now reflect on what can only be described as the “industrial schools” of present day Ireland – our prisons.
We read of serious overcrowding, assaults on prisoners and in a recent case the death of a prisoner – the latter prompting another investigation and report. In addition we have prison conditions in 2009 which in the case of Mountjoy are more appropriate to the 1800s. Drug use is rampant and the concept of rehabilitation and education is virtually nonexistent. In addition we seek to imprison drug addicts, people who may have lived in Ireland without the required permits and who are awaiting deportation, or indeed people who owe money. These are all swept up and imprisoned in one large melting pot.
Are these issues which in 50 years’ time our children will look back on with shame and horror? Will we then need a further report and investigation to be carried out on an issue of which we are all aware, but for which now no action is being taken? Countless reports have already identified the problems. Let nobody say in future years to their children or in Letters to the Editor that they never realised how bad the situation was.
– Yours, etc,