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INDEPENDENT TD MATTIE McGrath has said new prison visiting rules are “incredibly worrying and sinister” as they represent “the further gradual erosion of access to representation”.
Under rules introduced about six months ago, visits made to prisoners by TDs count towards their allocated number of weekly visits – something that previously wasn’t the case.
Most prisoners are entitled to two weekly visits, although this figure varies depending on what regime they’re on.
McGrath said it is not right that a prisoner must “forfeit a family visit in order to speak to his TD”.
That is a shocking restriction that seems calculated to deliberately minimise the legitimate interaction between a citizen and his or her public representative.
Now we are in a place where an individual is essentially being asked to make a difficult and emotional choice; do I choose to see my wife or kids or do I forfeit right that to speak my TD who can highlight any injustice against me at a national level?
The Tipperary South TD said the new rule places TDs in “a very invidious position” when they try to visit people who have been imprisoned due to a repossession or “other court disputes”.
McGrath said he was notified of the “abrupt changes to visitation rules” when trying to arrange to visit a jailed Kildare farmer in Mountjoy last week.
“I had previously visited this farmer, who is still in jail despite serious and credible evidence of failures in due process, without coming up against this barrier,” he noted.
‘We need rules’
However, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said they weren’t sure what McGrath was talking about as “a public representative has never been denied access” to a prisoner since the rule was changed.
The spokesperson said McGrath applied to see the farmer on the morning of 1 April, and permission for the visit was granted by the Director General of the Prison Service by lunchtime the same day – despite the fact the farmer had already used up his two-visit allowance that week.
The spokesperson said it’s not uncommon to approve extra visits for prisoners if it can be accommodated.
“We can’t have a free-for-all, there has to be some sort of rules in place,” they added.
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I thought Amnesty would have a campaign to stop torturing prisoners by letting TDs visit them?
Inflated view of his own importance.
Ah god love them, the poor souls.
Does Mattie think that normal rules dont apply to him cause he’s a TD?
Read the article
The problem with this ‘tolerant’ society we live in…
The prison service aren’t the only ones who don’t know what Mattie Mc Grath is banging on about. I’ve been confused for years.
Anyone else wondering why an elected TD is visiting a prisoner in jail??? Surely he’s not trying to use his position to interfere with the judiciary???
Looking for the families votes.
Should he be prohibited from visiting a prisoner because he is a TD?
Do you accuse everybody who visits a prisoner of attempting to interfere with the judiciary?
Has Mattie being caught out telling a big porkie?
We do live in a civilised society, compare our justice system to the middle east or even America to see how lucky we are
In this case the man was put in prison for alleged breach of a court order. He didn’t actually breach any order. Or commit any crime. People need to go to the courts and watch the savagery of the carry on we need to stop pretending we live in a civilised society . We have banks and receivers terrorising people with full backing of an apparently corrupt Judicatory.
If so he should be talking to his lawyer, or getting a new one if the 1st one defended him that badly
Better call Saul.
I think someone is on a power trip .
It is made perfectly clear on Deputy McGraths statement that he is not asking for an open door policy that would place an undue burden on the prison service. He asked for the restoration of the previous policy not unlimited access. In this case the prisoner requested the visit. Its there in black and white if the rep from prison service took the time to read it. The point being made by deputy McGrath was this restriction is part of a broader process to restrict representation. Deputy McGrath should not be held accountable for criticising a policy when the Irish prison service itself offered contradictory advice on the internal circular.
My comment removed despite nearly everyone agreeing with it. No idea why. Why put up a story about a lying, self serving TD who loves the sound of his own voice if people cant hold an opinion on it. The journal is becoming a joke…
Tds regularly write references for prisoners even rapists,they would do anything to secure a vote .
It was a civil matter!!!!
I like Mattys hat
Quite frankly I would’t let most of them have any visitors as they use the opportunity only to smuggle
Anyone who follows politics knows McGrath and therefore knows he’s a joke. His job in the dail is to heckle and that’s all he does. BTW mattie your Fianna Fáil to the back teeth so drop the independent tag please it’s not funny anymore.
That man is an idiot.
Does Mattie McGrath visiting a prisoner count as cruel and unusual punishment?
How man prisons are there in Tipperary South?
How many residents of the Tipperary South constituency are in prison?
What are they in prison for?
How much time is McGrath spending with prisoners from Tipperary South?
What is McGrath doing for these prisoners?
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