Reactions: Taping of conversations between prisoners and solicitors

1st April 2014

Today Taoiseach Enda Kenny revealed to that phone calls between prisoners and their solicitors were 'inadvertently recorded'  by the Irish Prison Service. 

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is extremely concerned at revelations that the Irish Prison Service recorded calls between prisoners and their legal representatives. The client-lawyer privilege is one of the most fundamental protections in the justice system, and it is a particularly important protection for prisoners in Ireland, who do not have access to an independent complaints mechanism.

Below is IPRT's press release, media reactions and discussions following the announcement. 

IPRT Publications:

• IPRT: 'IPRT calls for full investigation into prison tapes and for apology to be extended to prisoners'
• Position briefing: Position Paper 7 and Briefing on Complaints, Monitoring and Inspection.

Listen back:

• RTÉ Six One News: IPRT's Executive Director makes statement on the taping on privileged phone calls between prisoners and solicitors. (April 1st 2014)
• RTÉ Morning Ireland: Michael Donnellan of the Irish Prison Service apologizes over taping  (2 April 2014)

Read more:

• Irish Examiner: 'Taoiseach reveals bugging of prisoners' (2 April 2014)
• Irish Examiner: 'Prison service knew of prisoner' calls being recorded last week' (1 April 2014)
• Irish Examiner: 'Taoiseach demands report on the recording of phonecalls by the IPS' (2 April 2014)
• Irish Times: 'Recordings a breach of privacy for which the state could be sued' (2 April 2014)
• Irish Times: 'Recording of calls occurred 'inadvertently' says Irish Prison Service' (2 April 2014) 
• Irish Independent: '139 prisoners had their calls to solicitors taped' (2 April 2014)
• The Journal: Prison Service says it will apologise to solicitors (2 April 2014)
• The Journal: 'IPRT Prisoners deserve an apology as well as solicitors' (2 April 2014)
• BBC News: 'Michael Donnellan to look at prison phone call recordings implications' (2 April 2014)