Madam, - I note the letter from Edward Boyne, chairperson of the Irish Penal Reform Trust in your edition of October 31st.
I wrote to Mr Boyne on September 12th complaining about a number of inaccuracies in a report by the Irish Penal Reform Trust. In its report "To be or Not to Be in Observation Cells", it inaccurately claimed there had been a change in policy here at the Central Mental Hospital. It also gave credence to the untrue claim that patients at the Central Mental Hospital are "drugged up".
I have not yet received any acknowledgement of my complaint and as yet Mr Boyne has not replied to my letter. His letter in your columns is not what I think of as an appropriate response to a complaint on behalf of an enlightened human rights organisation.
I call on Mr Boyne to bring my letter of complaint to the attention of his board and the patrons of the Irish Penal Reform Trust. It would be interesting also to have sight of his complaints policy. As you have seen fit to publish Mr Boyne's letter, I would appreciate it if you would allow me to set the record straight by publishing this letter. - Yours, etc.,
HARRY KENNEDY,
Consultant Forensic
Psychiatrist,
Central Mental Hospital,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.