Letter to Irish Minister for Justice re Josephine Hayden

 Dear Minister,

 I write to express our organisation's concern at the continued detention in Limerick jail of Josephine Hayden. This prisoner has, I understand, suffered two heart attacks in as many months and yet the facility which the Irish State has to release on temporary licence has not been actioned.

 Whatever the hospital facilities at Limerick Jail, and I understand these are not good, the practice of confining a prisoner with such a vulnerable cardiac condition is at best imprudent and at worst inhumane.

 I urge your Department, as a matter of urgency, to review the circumstances of the detention of this prisoner with a view to granting early temporary release on health and humanitarian grounds so that she can obtain such specialised treatment as her own GP determines is necessary.

 I would conclude by reminding your Department that, in addition to its duty to contain securely those people sentenced by the Courts, under International law it also has a duty of care of those it holds. Quite patently good judgement is not being exercised in this case.

 Yours faithfully,

 J.B. Moffatt
General Secretary, Celtic League
29/7/97