Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore and Bishop Paul Dempsey, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin (Catholic Communications Office archive)
In response to the publication today of research undertaken by Maynooth University into the specific issues and challenges experienced by Foreign National Prisoners (FNPs) in the Irish prison system, Bishop Martin Hayes, the Bishops’ Conference Liaison Bishop to the Irish Prison Service, and Bishop Paul Dempsey, chair of the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) of the Bishops’ Conference, have expressed support for the report’s recommendations to establish a dedicated support service for FNPs, similar to that currently provided by the ICPO for Irish prisoners abroad.
Commenting on Foreign National Prisoners and Irish Prisons: Evaluating the Need for a Dedicated Service Bishop Hayes said, “I know well from my pastoral visits to our prisons around the country the amount time and effort invested in maintaining harmonious environments for the whole prison community. I have no hesitation in crediting civil servants, governors, staff, chaplains, the Irish Red Cross and prisoners themselves for creating this supportive and calm atmosphere within the Irish Prison Service.”
Bishops Hayes continued, “Notwithstanding this good work, our prison capacity is under pressure as it is overcrowded. This is a difficulty for the whole prison community. The Maynooth University findings today indicate that Foreign National Prisoners face additional challenges such as maintaining family relationships, visitation, language barriers and a lack of consistency in the provision of professional interpretation services. So as to respect the needs of our diverse prison population, these particular requirements should be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
Bishop Dempsey said, “since 1985 the role of the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas has been to provide vital pastoral support to thousands of Irish people who have been incarcerated abroad, as well as to offer advice to their distraught families at home who suddenly find themselves in helpless circumstances. Our ICPO service offers essential assistance to Irish prisoners abroad who are incredibly isolated – physically, emotionally and psychologically. While our work goes unheralded, in a typical year it would involve providing over 9,000 letters, phone calls, emails and prison visits made to, from or on behalf of Irish citizens overseas, thus bearing real witness to the Gospel mission to love God and to love your neighbour.
“Today’s Maynooth University research, on the needs and perspectives of Foreign National Prisoners in Ireland, is equally deserving of the resourcing provided to support Irish prisoners abroad. In my opinion, the MU research complements key findings in a 2021 ICPO survey of Irish prisoners abroad, which included:
- The biggest concern for Irish prisoners abroad was for their families;
- 60% of Irish prisoners abroad experienced mental health difficulties; and,
- Prayer and spirituality help best to manage prisoner stress and anxiety, followed by exercise and gym.
Bishop Dempsey concluded, “It stands to reason that if prisoners – Irish or otherwise – are serving their sentence in another country, then they will experience specific additional challenges. In Ireland, from a humanitarian perspective, we need to provide resources for our Foreign National Prisoners in order to meet this reality in a practical way. We welcome this first comprehensive investigation that highlights the experience and specific needs of FNPs in the Irish Prison System. We hope this report raises awareness and ignites further investment in this area.”
ENDS
- Bishop Martin Hayes is Bishop of Kilmore and the Liaison Bishop to the Irish Prison Service
- Bishop Paul Dempsey is Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin and chair of the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas of the Bishops’ Conference
- Established by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in 1985, the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) remains as only organisation working on behalf of Irish prisoners overseas and their families. Its purpose is to promote social justice and human dignity for Irish people in prison overseas and their families. This is carried out by offering information, support and advocacFy to prisoners and their families. Casework, publications and policy/networking are key elements of the service provision to the core group. To read more about the ICPO please click here.
- To read National Prisoners and Irish Prisons: Evaluating the Need for a Dedicated Service click here.
