Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2024
167. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of deaths in Irish prisons in each of the past five years; the number of these found to be drug overdose at inquest or review; and the number where drugs was referenced in either report [39414/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that all deaths in custody are notified to An Garda Síochána, who investigate where circumstances warrant, in addition to the inquest held in the Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Coroner's Court.
All deaths in custody, and deaths that occur within one month of temporary release, are also subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.
The Irish Prison Service is not advised by the Coroner whether the death was attributable to a drug overdose and the table below classifies the causes of death as determined by the coroner, where applicable. It also gives the number of people who died while in Prison in each of the last five years and to date in 2024.
Table: Deaths in Custody 2019 to 30 September 2024 inclusive classified by cause of death as determined by Coroner:
|
Year |
Suicide |
Deceased took his/her own life |
Misadventure |
Natural Causes |
Open |
Narrative Verdict |
Unlawful Killing |
Inquest Pending |
Annual Total |
|
2024 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
|
2023 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
12 |
|
2022 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
20 |
|
2021 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
8 |
|
2020 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
|
2019 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
14 |
|
Total |
4 |
0 |
4 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
56 |
77 |
