Prison Service ‘waste’ lambasted by judge

Prison Service ‘waste’ lambasted by judge 


Youths driven separately from Dublin prison to Castlebar Court

Ciara Galvin

TWO separate prison vans transferred two teenage prisoners from a Dublin prison to Castlebar court for a hearing that lasted less than 30 minutes last Thursday.
Judge Mary Devins lashed out at the waste of taxpayers’ money after she discovered that two youths were separately escorted from Wheatfield Prison to appear before Westport Children’s Court, sitting in Castlebar.
The judge branded the use of the two prison vans, two drivers and four prison officers to transport the youths to the same court ‘an unbelievable waste of resources’.
The youths had failed to appear before court at 10.30am and Judge Devins was informed that the prisoners were being escorted from Wheatfield Prison and were on the way. However, the judge was later informed that the two youths were separately escorted by the prison service.  
The first youth arrived into the court escorted by two prison officers at 11.10am, having left the prison shortly before 7am that morning. When asked by the judge why they were 40 minutes late, a prison officer informed her that they were directed to bring the prisoner to Westport Court.
The officer explained that while on the way to Westport they rang the prison asking if it was definitely Westport Children’s Court, and they were told it was. They turned back to Castlebar after realising that Westport Children’s Court now sits in Castlebar, as Westport Courthouse is currently closed. He added that the mistake could have been due to a ‘clerical error’.
The judge said she wanted it on record that it seemed that for young people in custody in Dublin, it is ‘impossible to get them here at 10.30am’.
“Everyone knows how long it takes to get from Dublin to Mayo,” she added.
Supt Joe McKenna told the court it was ‘unacceptable that the child couldn’t consult with his solicitor before the court’ as they were late to court.
She struck out the matter, stating that the child had been unlawfully in custody for 40 minutes due to the delay.
“The whole thing is a complete mess,” said Judge Devins.

Repeat offence
Defending solicitor Peter Loftus, who was representing the other youth, said clients had been brought to court late by the prison service on three separate occasions the previous week.
In relation to the second child in custody, a prison officer told the court that they too were given the wrong information in relation to bringing the youth to Westport District Court.
“It’s as if you were told you were going to Iceland. We’re in the same country. It’s somebody’s fault,” said Judge Devins.
She then struck out the matter citing various issues, including the child not being given his constitutional right to speak to his solicitor before court, and that he was also unlawfully kept in custody.
A spokesperson from the Irish Prison Service press office subsequently told The Mayo News that the prisoners were transported via two separate vehicles, as they were listed to go to two different courts, Castlebar and Westport.
The spokesperson went on to say that it is not yet known why the prison service officers were not made aware that Westport Courthouse is no longer open.
“We have noted the comments by the judge, and a report has been sought from the governor of the Prison Service Escort Corp,” concluded the spokesperson.