Eire/Ireland: Maghaberry - More Healthcare Deficiencies Alleged

There have been fresh allegations about the treatment of prisoners in Maghaberry Jail, Northern Ireland. Republican Sinn Fein (RSF) says that there was an unacceptable delay in providing medical treatment for

There have been fresh allegations about the treatment of prisoners in Maghaberry Jail, Northern Ireland.

Republican Sinn Fein (RSF) says that there was an unacceptable delay in providing medical treatment for prisoner who was injured last Sunday.

RSF allege that republican prisoner, Brian McAllister, who had dislocated his shoulder, had to wait over three hours before he was removed to hospital for treatment. They say that medical assistance initially provided was inadequate and they further allege that when McAllister complained about his lack of treatment he was ignored.

Maghaberry was recently the subject of a further critical report about medical provision and standards at the jail. See:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3119

The CPT standards set by the Council of Europe Prison's monitoring group say clearly that:

"The health care service should be so organised as to enable requests to consult a doctor to be met without undue delay."

The standards also state:

"As regards emergency treatment, a doctor should always be on call."

The full CPT Standards can be accessed at:

http://www.cpt.coe.int/en/documents/eng-standards.pdf

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

28/07/09