31st May 2021
In an article by Conor Gallagher for The Irish Times, IPRT has expressed dismay that men and women in prison appear to have been left behind in Ireland’s pandemic efforts.
The article outlines that just 2.1%* of prisoners have received a dose of COVID-19 vaccination as of last week. This compares to 50% of eligible adults in the community.
IPRT Executive Director Fíona Ní Chinnéide is quoted in the article, stating:
“People in prison and their families outside have been patiently waiting their turn for vaccinations despite the incredibly tough restrictions on prison life.
Thousands of children have not had physical contact with their parent in prison in over 14 months. The trauma for those children and families will be long-lasting.”
Read the article in full on The Irish Times website here.
For more on IPRT's ongoing work on COVID-19 and Irish prisons, see here.
* Published figures in response to parliamentary questions available here (25th May) and here (26th May).
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.