Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Photocall Ireland

Ireland told to stop sending people to prison for not paying fines

The UN also expressed concern over the continued practice of slopping out.

THE UN HAS expressed concern at the number of people going to prison for failure to pay fines.

In an eight page document released by the international body’s Human Rights Committee yesterday, it said an alternative method needs to be looked at.

This is despite the adoption of Enforcement of Court Orders (amendment) Act 2009 and Fines (payment and recovery) Act 2014 by the State.

The UN committee said: “The State party should fully implement the Fines (payment and recovery) Act 2014 to provide for a community service order as an alternative to imprisonment used as a method of enforcing contractual obligations.”

Welcoming the recommendations the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) called on the Government to act on the committee’s recommendations “without delay”.

Deirdre Malone, executive director of the IPRT said: “The Committee is uncompromising in its statement that no one should be sent to prison for failure to pay fines or debts. The Fines Act 2014… must be fully implemented, and with urgency.

“In the meantime, Ireland continues to send thousands of people to prison every year for being unable to pay fines,” Malone said.

The committee also tells Ireland to ”step up its efforts” on improving living conditions for prisoners including addressing the practice of ‘slopping out’.

Currently over 300 prisoners are slopping out in prisons across Ireland.

It said improvements to living conditions, treatment of detainees, overcrowding and the practice of ‘slopping out’ should be looked at “as a matter of urgency” in line with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

In its observations the committee welcomed measures taken by the State to improve prison conditions and to increase the use of community sanctions as an alternative to imprisonment.

However, it criticised the lack of progress in eliminating “adverse conditions” in a number of prisons including overcrowding, lack of in-cell sanitation facilities and lack of segregation of remand and convicted prisoners.

In reaction to this, Malone of the IPRT said: “Over 300 prisoners are still slopping out in Ireland today, many in crowded cells, where they also eat their meals. It is inhumane and degrading, and it must end.”

UN tells Ireland to open an investigation into symphysiotomy

UN: Ireland must take action to decriminalise abortion

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Author
View 130 comments
Close
130 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Favourite ThomasFrancisMeagher
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 12:39 PM

    The rise of Islamophobia & the re-emergence of Anti-Semitism in Europe is very sad to see. Fear through ignorance is the cause of all types of racism. People fear what/who they don’t know & understand.

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Genius
    Favourite Genius
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 1:08 PM

    Well you assume all who are sceptic of promoters of jehad and indiscriminate killing of women and children in the west bank are ignorant and racist,That in itself is a stereo typing.I would suggest that a total sense of apathy is not the answer as you suggest.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
    Favourite Buckwheat MacMillan
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 1:11 PM

    Global Jihad is nothing at all to be concerned about.

    16
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Murphy
    Favourite Conor Murphy
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 6:21 PM

    @Genius

    There is a difference between Islamaphobia and critiquing islam. Europe undeniably has a huge problem with Islamaphobia.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Genius
    Favourite Genius
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 6:52 PM

    @Conor Murphy
    Can you have a guess as to why that might be,Its not a totally unfounded irrational fear.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Bourne
    Favourite Jason Bourne
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 6:55 PM

    Straight in therw again Thomas!!!!! How do you do it. Its like you are getting paid to watch these articles online. Oh wait……. a go, collect that 2grand. Fair play. Easy money if you can get it

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris
    Favourite Chris
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 12:41 PM

    And we all thought Germany left that behind them and they then call the shots in the rest of Europe shame on them

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute snooch
    Favourite snooch
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 12:48 PM

    129 people in one of the largest states in Europe. Thats like trying to make out what the staff in one tesco store do is what the entire Irish nation do. Backwards blind Germany bashing will most likely be par for course on this article.

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anne De Croix
    Favourite Anne De Croix
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 3:26 PM

    Ah, where’s my comment gone!

    Like racism in much of the west, pro nazi sentiment is alive and well in modern Germany according to some Germans I met recently.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Browne
    Favourite Sean Browne
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 1:44 PM

    Where is the tesco store I’m going to lidl from now on

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Gaynor
    Favourite Mark Gaynor
    Report
    May 5th 2013, 7:44 PM

    Now I know why I can’t get a good bagel or falafal in Germany!

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds