Madam, - The mission statement of the Irish Prison Service states that they shall "provide safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison. The Service is committed to managing custodial sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoners in their endeavouring to live law-abiding and purposeful lives as valued members of society."
The recent incidents at Mountjoy prison are very disturbing indeed. A man was viciously murdered in an overcrowded cell despite the fact that he requested protection from the jail authorities. Two men died in a 12-hour period on Thursday last. Another man was recently stabbed in the eye soon after he was committed to the prison. Two further stabbings occurred since. In addition to this, numerous independent reports have been written on the degrading conditions at Mountjoy.
As a human rights issue, prisoners are entitled to basic protection. To date there is no list, or charter of rights while someone is in prison in Ireland. Instead, the courts in Ireland consider prisoners' rights as individual cases come before them. This would appear to be inadequate and rather ad hoc by any standards. A minimum international guideline would be "The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners", adopted by the UN Economic and Social Council in 1957. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD COFFEY, Wainsfort Manor Crescent, Terenure, Dublin 6W.