Indian National Dies in Cloverhill Prison While Awaiting Deportation, Sparking Calls for Reform
Dublin: A 38-year-old Indian man, who had been detained after illegally entering Ireland, was found dead in his cell at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin on October 7, while awaiting a deportation order. The man had been in custody since mid-September, and it is believed he died of natural causes. At the time of his death, there were four people housed in a cell designed for three inmates.
The Irish Prison Service confirmed the death and stated that an investigation into the matter is underway. Authorities, including the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons, and the Gardaí, are collaborating in the investigation. The official cause of death will be determined by the Coroner’s Office in due course. The Irish Prison Service extended its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
In the wake of this incident, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has reiterated its opposition to the detention of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in Irish prisons. The IPRT called for an end to the practice, emphasising that those seeking asylum should not be imprisoned.
This tragic incident occurred just days after another inmate, Mr. Salinger, a Dublin-based horse-drawn carriage driver, was fatally stabbed in Cloverhill Prison on October 5. Salinger had been in custody since mid-August, following the discovery of a firearm and €20,000 worth of cannabis in a building in Ballyfermot. Gardaí are currently investigating the murder, as well as the stabbing of another inmate in the same cell. Salinger suffered severe neck and body injuries in what authorities described as a prolonged assault.
The IPRT has condemned the practice of detaining asylum seekers and individuals awaiting deportation alongside serious criminals. In a statement, the organisation expressed its dismay, asserting that it is “totally unacceptable” to house immigration detainees in Irish prisons, calling for urgent reforms to address this issue.
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