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Prisoner suicide was preventable | Prisoner suicide was preventable |
(30 minutes later) | |
The suicide of a woman in Maghaberry prison in March 2004 could have been prevented, a jury has found. | The suicide of a woman in Maghaberry prison in March 2004 could have been prevented, a jury has found. |
The coroner's court heard the prison system failed Roseanne Irvine, 34, who was found hanging in her cell, even though she was on suicide watch. | The coroner's court heard the prison system failed Roseanne Irvine, 34, who was found hanging in her cell, even though she was on suicide watch. |
The jury found there was a severe lack of communication, a failure to manage the suicide watch system, and a lack of health care for female prisoners. | The jury found there was a severe lack of communication, a failure to manage the suicide watch system, and a lack of health care for female prisoners. |
The coroner is to write to the Prison Service head and the NI secretary. | The coroner is to write to the Prison Service head and the NI secretary. |
John Leckey said he would be asking them to give appropriate consideration to the points raised by the jury. | John Leckey said he would be asking them to give appropriate consideration to the points raised by the jury. |
Ms Irvine suffered from mental problems and alcohol dependency, and had tried to kill herself before while in custody. | Ms Irvine suffered from mental problems and alcohol dependency, and had tried to kill herself before while in custody. |
The mother of a young daughter, she was on remand on an arson charge when she died. | The mother of a young daughter, she was on remand on an arson charge when she died. |
'Very sad' | 'Very sad' |
Her sister, Josephine Joyce, said it was "very sad that anybody can treat a human being like that". | Her sister, Josephine Joyce, said it was "very sad that anybody can treat a human being like that". |
"I just hope that nobody else is ever treated this way again," she said. | |
Her sister Josephine said she hoped this could never happen againPrison Service director Robin Masefield expressed his regret at the death of Ms Irvine. | |
He admitted there had been failings in the past, but said they were working to implement the 30 recommendations that were contained in a report commissioned after her death. | He admitted there had been failings in the past, but said they were working to implement the 30 recommendations that were contained in a report commissioned after her death. |
"Within the service, we have, of course, moved the women from Maghaberry to Ash House in Hydebank Wood in 2004," he said. | "Within the service, we have, of course, moved the women from Maghaberry to Ash House in Hydebank Wood in 2004," he said. |
"Perhaps most significantly, last September we updated our overall suicide and self harm policy." | "Perhaps most significantly, last September we updated our overall suicide and self harm policy." |
Suicide watch | Suicide watch |
For 10 years, Ms Irvine had been in hospital on an almost monthly basis being treated for depression and suicide attempts. | For 10 years, Ms Irvine had been in hospital on an almost monthly basis being treated for depression and suicide attempts. |
She suffered from a personality disorder, and the court was told she should never have been sent to prison. | She suffered from a personality disorder, and the court was told she should never have been sent to prison. |
Just over a week after arriving in jail, Ms Irvine threatened to kill herself. | Just over a week after arriving in jail, Ms Irvine threatened to kill herself. |
She was placed on suicide watch and should have seen a doctor a day later, but that appointment was cancelled. | She was placed on suicide watch and should have seen a doctor a day later, but that appointment was cancelled. |
On the morning of 3 March 2004, for a second time she was not seen by a doctor. | On the morning of 3 March 2004, for a second time she was not seen by a doctor. |
She took an overdose later in the day but was not sent to hospital. | She took an overdose later in the day but was not sent to hospital. |
That evening, she was found hanged in her cell. | That evening, she was found hanged in her cell. |