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Prosecutions should follow institution abuse report - O'Keeffe

Sligo's Senator Susan O’Keeffe said that if prison officers abused young offenders in their care in St Patrick’s Institution, they ought to be prosecuted. “If only one prison officer is responsible for the abuse of young people in his/her care, then that officer should be prosecuted. If there are more, then the same should apply.”

Senator O’Keeffe said she welcomed the report from the Inspector for Prisons Judge Michael Reilly and Justice Minister Alan Shatter’s commitment to investigate particular officers. The Prison Officers Association has also expressed its concern and a commitment to better training for its officers.

“I want to pay tribute to the efforts the Inspector made to get to the truth. His report leaves no room for doubt about what has been happening to people in St Patrick’s. However, the best tribute to his report will be to make sure that young offenders are treated with dignity into the future and that those who have bullied and abused young offenders face the full rigours of the law. Prisons cannot be a place of degradation and abuse.”