This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6361081.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Suicide was 'partly prison fault' Suicide was 'partly prison fault'
(30 minutes later)
The suicide of a woman in Maghaberry jail was "partly a failure of the prison system", the service's director general Robin Masefield has said.The suicide of a woman in Maghaberry jail was "partly a failure of the prison system", the service's director general Robin Masefield has said.
A jury found the death of Roseanne Irvine could have been prevented.A jury found the death of Roseanne Irvine could have been prevented.
The coroner's court heard the prison system failed the 34-year-old, who was found hanging in her cell in 2004, even though she was on suicide watch.The coroner's court heard the prison system failed the 34-year-old, who was found hanging in her cell in 2004, even though she was on suicide watch.
"Prison is not a suitable environment for someone with a personality/mental health disorder," Mr Masefield said."Prison is not a suitable environment for someone with a personality/mental health disorder," Mr Masefield said.
"However, under Northern Ireland's mental health legislation there is no other alternative."However, under Northern Ireland's mental health legislation there is no other alternative.
"It was sadly the case that she (Roseanne Irvine) had looked for support and assistance elsewhere. "It was sadly the case that she (Roseanne Irvine) had looked for support and assistance elsewhere," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show.
I went round with a begging bowl for money from different government agencies, including the prison, and I was turned away Dr Raman KapurMental health charity ThresholdI went round with a begging bowl for money from different government agencies, including the prison, and I was turned away Dr Raman KapurMental health charity Threshold
"We had been working with her, both in prison previously, and on her release with others in the community trying to find better alternatives."We had been working with her, both in prison previously, and on her release with others in the community trying to find better alternatives.
"But sadly that hadn't worked out - partly as a result of her mental difficulties, and she had come back into prison.""But sadly that hadn't worked out - partly as a result of her mental difficulties, and she had come back into prison."
Mr Masefield said "there was a lot happening in Maghaberry" at the time of Roseanne's death.Mr Masefield said "there was a lot happening in Maghaberry" at the time of Roseanne's death.
"Some of these individuals are deeply and desperately damaged."Some of these individuals are deeply and desperately damaged.
"They have had terribly difficult lives and for some of them prison represents - at the moment - the best alternative.""They have had terribly difficult lives and for some of them prison represents - at the moment - the best alternative."
'Lack of funds''Lack of funds'
Mr Masefield said he was striving to find "an acceptable alternative to the only option for the judiciary being custody".Mr Masefield said he was striving to find "an acceptable alternative to the only option for the judiciary being custody".
However, Dr Raman Kapur, director of mental health charity Threshold, said Roseanne, and others like her, had been desperately let down by the system.However, Dr Raman Kapur, director of mental health charity Threshold, said Roseanne, and others like her, had been desperately let down by the system.
Her sister Josephine said she hoped this could never happen againHer sister Josephine said she hoped this could never happen again
Dr Kapur, a consultant clinical psychologist, said a special unit for people with personality disorders where he treated Roseanne had to be closed because of a lack of funds.Dr Kapur, a consultant clinical psychologist, said a special unit for people with personality disorders where he treated Roseanne had to be closed because of a lack of funds.
"I wish people had shown me a lot more compassion when I had to make the decision to close down Bridge House," he said."I wish people had shown me a lot more compassion when I had to make the decision to close down Bridge House," he said.
"I went round with a begging bowl for money from different government agencies, including the prison, and I was turned away.""I went round with a begging bowl for money from different government agencies, including the prison, and I was turned away."
He added: "I had to live with that decision... knowing as a clinician that the likelihood was that some of the people who would leave that unit would take their own lives - I did not meet a lot of compassion in the system."He added: "I had to live with that decision... knowing as a clinician that the likelihood was that some of the people who would leave that unit would take their own lives - I did not meet a lot of compassion in the system."
On Tuesday, 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.On Tuesday, 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.
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".