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Patricia Gilheaney Laura Hutton via RollingNews.ie

Inspector of Prisons was refused entry to facility by officer who 'appeared to be intoxicated'

The details of the incident are contained in the Office of Inspector of Prisons 2018 annual report.

THE NEW INSPECTOR of Prisons was refused entry into a facility by a prison officer who “appeared to be intoxicated”, according to a new report from the inspector’s office. 

The details of the incident are contained in the Office of Inspector of Prisons 2018 annual report

Patricia Gilheaney was appointed as Inspector of Prisons on 7 May 2018. The report outlines that following her appointment, an initial priority of Gilheaney’s was to “visit every prison in the country”. 

In one of her early visits, the report outlines that an officer refused the Inspector entry into a prison. The prison in question has not been identified. 

“He appeared to be intoxicated, ie. strong smell of alcohol and difficulty in reading the inspector’s photo identification card,” the report outlines. 

Prison management was immediately verbally notified of the incident and a report was subsequently submitted by Gilheaney to management in the prison concerned. 

Despite this incident, the Inspector noted the “professionalism and dedication of staff in challenging and sometimes dangerous situations” throughout her visits to prisons. 

Gangs and contraband

The annual report outlined numerous other issues faced by staff in Ireland’s prisons, such as the prevalence of gangs. 

The report noted that over the past number of years in Ireland, “society has witnessed an exponential growth in the number of crime related gangs and factions throughout the country”. 

The Inspector outlined that she witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by prison management and prison officers “in separating a number of rival gangs / factions not only in prison wings but also on landings in prisons”. 

“Membership or allegiance to these criminal gangs fluctuate on a continuous basis with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated,” the report said. 

A colour coding system is used to signify with whom the prisoners could associate with “was and continues to be used to maintain a safe environment”, according to the report. 

However, it went on to say this, “in and of itself, is high risk due to the number of factions involved”. 

Meanwhile, the ready availability of contraband in prisons was described as a “serious concern” in the report. 

It outlined that the buying and selling of illicit drugs and mobile phones in prisons “can lead to bullying and intimidation of not only the prisoners concerned, but also their family and friends”.

“Whilst acknowledging this issue exists and the inherent challenges it presents, it is important that the Irish Prison Service does not accept it ‘as the norm’ and continues to strive and increase its efforts to improve security at points of entry to prisons,” the report said. 

Mental health services

In the report, Gilheaney welcomed the granting of planning permission for a replacement 120-bed forensic mental health facility in the Central Mental Hospital.

However, she said she is “concerned” that it is likely that access by prisoners to an appropriate inpatient forensic facility “will remain a challenge following the commissioning of the new facility”. 

The Inspector’s concerns regarding the “dearth” of appropriate mental health care provision has been brought to the attention of the Minister for Justice and his officials, according to the report.

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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:12 PM

    Being a Prison Officer has to be one of the most challenging jobs around

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    Mute Janette Kelly
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:21 PM

    Should try Social care worke

    103
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    Mute John Murt
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:27 PM

    @Diaspora’d: does that give them permission to drink on duty

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    Mute Shirley Hollingsworth
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:59 PM

    @Diaspora’d: would think being a full time carer is much worse..

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    Mute gm_cmanning
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:55 PM

    @Shirley Hollingsworth & Janette: not sure tis a competition guys

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    Mute Ger
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:24 PM

    @Diaspora’d: it really depends on prison. There are a couple you couldn’t pay me any money to work in and one or two where I’ve seen officers on duty drifting off to sleep because it’s so quiet. Having visited most of the prisons in the country in my previous job I could nearly guess which one the drunk officer was in. I have experienced it several times too and all in the same one lol

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    Mute Martin Scaldbag
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:45 PM

    @Janette Kelly: should try farming

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:26 PM

    It is interesting the Inspector of prisons says she was refused permission to enter the prison but does not state the reason why,could it be if she was only recently appointed that the staff simply didn’t know who she was and showing a card at the entry point could not confirm identity. Was the prison notified of her intention to present herself and surely common courtesy would be that she meets with the prison governor to introduce herself. Just think her approach was questionable and to then assert the prison officer was under the influence when he/she has no right of rebuttal, like casting a slur, can’t imagine she has got off to a good start, sometimes a little understanding until you know the ropes.

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    Mute John O'Brien
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:53 PM

    @Honeybee: That’s an unreasonable point of view. She’s the inspector of prisons. Of all people she’s entitled to show up at any detention facility and gain access without prior notice. Her credentials would be the highest security level, otherwise what’s the point. Sounds more like patriarchy.

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:08 PM

    @John O’Brien: She is entitled to gain access when the prison service knows exactly who she is and can confirm her identity beyond doubt, otherwise she is a security risk and whoever admits her will be held accountable. The day of flashing a card is done,these things can be improvised at the highest level and we are talking gaining admission to a high security facility.

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    Mute John O'Brien
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:15 PM

    @Honeybee: That’s the whole point of security and access credentials. It’s the means of verifying who you are. It’s the guard in questions job to verify she is who she says she is. Every facility in the country operates in general on this basis. Otherwise nobody would ever get past security and into work, offices, banks, factories etc. Security guards don’t know everyone personally.

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    Mute Bryan Yelahw
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:26 PM

    @Honeybee: The Inspector of Prisons may at any time enter any prison or any part of a prison. That is the legislation.

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    Mute Honeybee
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:36 PM

    @Bryan Yelahw: I did not say otherwise,from the article she was refused admission and she says ‘the officer had difficulty in reading her photo ID’ and an allegation that the officer was intoxicated. I am surprised that admission to visit is not done by a biometric system as happens in high security establishments in the UK. A photograph and fingerprints are taken on a first visit and thereafter fingerprints are scanned as part of the ID process.This is a more secure and infallible system

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    Mute Kieran Shortt
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:53 PM

    @Honeybee: I would imagine an unannounced inspection would be better than a scheduled one- that way you are more likely to see how it really is. With all the drugs that get in, despite high security, said gangs must have some of the officers on their payroll

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    Mute Fiona Brown
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:56 PM

    @Honeybee: she had to get into the prison to introduce herself to the Governor in person, don’t you think!

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Dec 16th 2019, 10:38 PM

    @John O’Brien: in many facilities frontline security personnel are expressly forbidden to verify and admit either known or unknown persons, regardless of the identification they offer, once they don’t meet the access requirements, correct ID for the facility or automated access control system on the day, standard operating procedures stipulate that a dedicated person or persons in management, must authorise access after documenting a verification procedure.

    This prevents people blagging their way in to facilities either for nefarious reasons or attempting to breach the security to test it.

    In fact, no frontline security person will ever be faulted for refusing access to anyone, the onus is entirely on the person seeking entry to any facility, to make adequate arrangements in advance.

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    Mute ger o' dwyer
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    Dec 17th 2019, 1:10 AM

    @Fiona Brown: So the officer should have just left her in without knowing who she was?? The officer was quite entitled to refuse her entry if he/she didn’t know who she was.

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    Mute Perlum Sprite
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    Dec 17th 2019, 10:39 AM

    @John O’Brien: yeah, a fella getting pissed on the job is “the patriarchy” in action. Get a grip ffs.

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    Mute Matthew Handibode
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    Dec 17th 2019, 10:41 AM

    @Honeybee: I’m guessing you jumped straight to the comments. Otherwise you would have noticed the part that said “had trouble reading her ID” meaning she showed her ID. Meaning she gets in end of story.

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    Mute Martin Harte
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:13 PM

    Name the prison where the guard was drunk

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:20 PM

    @Martin Harte: Why would you do that? The Prison Officer “appeared to be intoxicated.” I am sure the facts were established it was dealt with by the authorities at the Prison.

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    Mute Ger
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:26 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: why do we need to know that. It’s up to the IPS to deal with disciplinary issues, none of our beeswax

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:30 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I’m fairly sure that the Prison. Authorities dealt with the Report of The Inspector. No way would he have got away with that.

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    Mute JDB
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:47 PM

    Throw them onto a island of west coast and just stick a naval vessel offshore and shoot anything going on or off without permission we save a fortune .

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    Mute Ger
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:28 PM

    @JDB: anyway…… Back in the real world

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:23 PM

    So if she was refused by an officer at the gate, did she contact any of the management at the time to sort it out? It is right to include it in her report but it would be helpful if we could see what actually happened on the day .

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:33 PM

    @John O’Neill: It clearly says it in the article.
    “but it would be helpful if we could see what actually happened”
    Helpful? In what way? What would that knowledge assist you in doing?

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    Mute Malachy Mc Nulty
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:35 PM

    @John O’Neill: read her report answer is there.

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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:08 PM

    @John O’Neill: People on here should understand that the staff on the floor keep the smooth running of our prisons and not the management. Anybody think that maybe the officer on the gate might need help from his managers in regards what could be a serious drink problem? Drink problems in every job. Nobody helped gazza and look how that worked out.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Dec 17th 2019, 1:10 PM

    @Malachy Mc Nulty: did she get into the prison?

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    Mute Mick.
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:56 PM

    “The Inspector noted the professionalism and dedication of staff in challenging and sometimes dangerous situations”
    This should be the actual Headline.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:14 PM

    @Mick.: No one would have read the article.

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    Mute Mick.
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:24 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: And yet we see some commentators don’t read past the Headline and tar all Prison Staff with the same brush.
    With 3000 Staff show me a workforce of equivalent numbers that doesn’t have a rare few problem staff?

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    Mute John Murt
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:26 PM

    She personally witnessed this incident and yet all is ok..bollox

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    Mute Paul Dooley
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:59 PM

    John Delaney take note
    Drunk prison officers could turn off the heat in your cell

    Better bring the sheepskin coat

    29
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    Mute Shirley Hollingsworth
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:04 PM

    @Paul Dooley: prob on 24 hours a day for the little loves…I have a few ideas if there looking to change the prison system..3 big new ones for starters..cold turkey for seconds..and no visiting for desert..jail is jail..

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    Mute Owen Lynch
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:59 PM

    She should have gone to the Main Gate instead of James Gate.

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    Mute Eileen Roche
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:28 PM

    Sounds like certain gangs are using ithe facilities as a breeding place for new recruits when released. Very hard to find a system that could stop it.

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    Mute Madra
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    Dec 16th 2019, 4:22 PM

    Yikes. Roll on the ‘well if he was intoxicated what were the inmates like’ comments in 5,4,3,2…oh wait it this isn’t live TV. Over to you guys in the comments

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    Mute Declan Bowe
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    Dec 16th 2019, 5:10 PM

    No surprise there, I know of a prison where the near by pup gets his best customer prison officer, coming in hours before shift and leaving pissed to go to work.

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    Mute Derek Trotter
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:02 PM

    @Declan Bowe: so the Prison officer has an alcohol problem Declan. There are literally hundreds of prison officers in this country who do their job to best of their ability on a daily basis hence our prisons are under control. The inspector mentions that to but your not surprised.

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    Mute Liamnolan
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    Dec 16th 2019, 6:14 PM

    @Declan Bowe: I’d say you had a few in the same pup before typing that….!!!

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    Mute padar
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    Dec 17th 2019, 12:46 AM

    What if the officer said the inspector was drunk???? The reason she didn’t get in is because she obviously was pissed.

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