Report after report has documented the problems with St Patrick’s Institution – but now we need to actually deal with young offenders in a meaningful way.
A prison officer in St Patrick’s says all the current problems in St Patrick’s Institution will just be recreated when the inmates move to Wheatfield Prison.
The Inspector of Prisons has reported incidents of forced stripping of prisoners, excessive punishment, and bullying and intimidation of young and vulnerable inmates by staff at the facility.
The report said there has been no outcome from a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman and there was “little external advocacy and intervention” on behalf of the young person involved.
Prisoners at the institution, which houses offenders aged 16 to 21, are placed on protection when they are under threat from other inmates or pose a risk to the prison population.
A BAN ON “all forms of advertising” by betting companies before the 9pm watershed has been recommended by the Oireachtas Justice Committee.
A report published by the committee said around 3,400 15 and 16-year-olds are “engaged in problem gambling in Ireland”.
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“Stakeholders emphasised, in particular, the need for a pre-watershed ban on all forms of gambling advertising.
“They pointed out that a cultural shift had resulted in advertising on cigarettes being banned and advertising on alcohol being curtailed and recommended that the same approach be applied to gambling advertising,” the document states.
In terms of online adverts, the report notes that gambling ads are typically aimed at people over the age of 25. However, stakeholders noted “it can be challenging to prevent all websites from showing adverts to those underage”.
The report was compiled as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Gambling Regulation Bill, which is expected to pass next year.
What do you think: Should all gambling ads be banned before 9pm?
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