Chaplain rejects use of prisoner `barriers'

NEW restrictions on prisoners deemed to be dangerous could make a bad situation worse, the head of the Catholic prison chaplains service, Father Fergal MacDonagh, said yesterday.

Representatives of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) yesterday met officials from the Department of Justice to discuss "barrier" methods the POA wants introduced for officers safety.

Father MacDonagh said that under current rules the restraint of inmates must be very short-term. No prisoner should, as punishment, be put in "irons" or any mechanical restraint.

The POA wants the new barrier methods applied to the six prisoners who held officers hostage in Mountjoy last week. Use of the measures might then be extended to other prisoners considered particularly dangerous.

Father MacDonagh said prison officers had very genuine concerns. "But that type of thing will not tackle the problem. It could make a bad situation worse." There were already separation units in Irish prisons. "I would hate to think we are talking about something more restricted."

He said what was needed were changes that furthered the rehabilitation of inmates.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice would not comment on the meeting with the POA. A POA spokesman was not available for comment.