Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1986 > Select Committee on Criminal Lawlessness and Vandalism > Report No. 11 - Disturbance at Fort Mitchel prison, Spike Island on the 1st September 1985

APPENDIX N

Letter dated 25th November 1985 from the Garda Commissioner to the Clerk to the Committee

Dear Sir,

I wish to refer to your letter of 14th November, 1985 and attachment - copy of correspondence received from the Garda Representative Association - in above matter.

The correspondence from the Garda Representative Association would appear to suggest that the disturbances which occurred at Fort Mitchel Prison on 1st September, 1985 should have been foreseen by the Gardai. There are no grounds on which such a suggestion could be soundly based. Gardai who performed duty on Spike Island each night did not report anything which might indicate signs of trouble. It is true that a number of prisoners escaped from the prison compound during the months prior to the riot but this could not be remotely construed as indicating that a riot of such magnitude was inevitable.

The radio communication system between Spike Island and Cobh Garda Station was effective prior to the riot and at no time did the Gardai on duty on the Island make any complaint in this regard. An unforeseen fault in the main transmitter at Cobh Garda Station developed at about 2.30 a.m. on 1st September, 1985. Despite this radio contact was at all times maintained with Spike Island by use of personal radio sets.

All members of the Garda Siochana employed on operational duty are issued with riot helmets. An adequate supply of riot shields was available at Cork Divisional Headquarters, and this was the sensible location to have them bearing in mind that any reinforcements required in the Cork area have to be drawn from there.

A contingency plan to deal with major incidents in Cobh District was available at Cobh Garda Station. This plan was activated on the occasion of the riot and operated quite well, as was borne out by subsequent events on the night of the disturbances and on the following day. No specific plan was prepared to deal with Spike Island in isolation.

A very good launch service is available between Cobh and Spike Island on a 24-hour basis. This service consists of a fleet of about twenty boats of different types and includes a roll-on/roll-off vessel.

The speed with which reinforcements reached Spike Island on the occasion of the disturbances is regarded as reasonable, having regard to the time of night, the distance to be travelled and the fact that all had to be transported by launches from Cobh. The landing of the launches on the Island was impeded for some time by the rioting prisoners. This was something which was not anticipated and could not reasonably have been foreseen.

It is true that the local representatives of the Garda Representative Association had a number of meetings with the Superintendent at Cobh during the summer of 1985. The meetings centred around overtime in relation to duty on Spike Island. Close liasion has existed, and continues to exist, between the local Gardai and the prison staff on Spike Island.

The remaining issues raised in the correspondence from the Garda Representative Association are not matters for the Gardai.

It should be noted that a file in connection with the riot has been forwarded to the Law Officers for instructions as to whether criminal proceedings should be instituted.

Yours faithfully,

PRIVATE SECRETARY.