Imagine a justice system where the most vulnerable members of society, those struggling with severe mental illness, are locked away in prisons instead of receiving the care they desperately need. This is not a dystopian fantasy—it’s a stark reality exposed by a recent investigative documentary. But here’s where it gets even more alarming: the problem isn’t just about a lack of hospital beds; it’s about systemic failures that leave families grieving and experts questioning the very foundation of our mental health policies. And this is the part most people miss—it’s not just about the individuals in prison; it’s about the ripple effect on their families, communities, and the moral compass of our society.
Following the eye-opening two-part documentary by RTÉ Investigates, the spotlight has shifted to the urgent question: What needs to change? The series revealed a disturbing trend: an increasing number of people with acute mental illnesses are being incarcerated, often because there’s simply no appropriate hospital bed available. Within hours of the final episode, government officials were under fire, forced to confront whether their priorities had been misplaced. Conor Ryan, from RTÉ Investigates, reported that just eleven hours after the series concluded, key figures in Ireland’s mental health policy gathered in the basement of Leinster House. Among them were Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeil and Junior Minister Mary Butler, who faced tough questions about their spending priorities for the year.
Here’s the controversial part: Minister Butler defended the government’s approach, pointing out that in-reach psychiatric services are available in ten out of twelve prisons, with plans to expand to the remaining two. She also highlighted the Programme for Government’s proposal to create an 'approved centre' within a prison wing, essentially a hospital inside a prison where anti-psychotic treatment could be administered when clinically necessary. But is this enough? Critics argue that it’s a band-aid solution for a gaping wound.
Those on the frontlines of mental health care paint a different picture. They told RTÉ Investigates that many individuals in prison should never have been there in the first place, including those languishing on a growing waiting list for the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). Labour Party’s health spokesperson, Marie Sherlock, raised a critical question: To what extent are the crimes committed by these individuals a direct result of their mental illness? She pointed out the stark difference between minor offenses driven by mental health conditions and more serious crimes, emphasizing that people are ending up in jail simply because of their disorders. For instance, she cited the case of someone who was arrested for talking to a wall in Dublin Airport—a clear cry for help, not a criminal act.
This brings us to the tragic story of Johnbull Omoragbon, a 52-year-old Nigerian-born Spanish citizen and father of four. Arrested after refusing to leave Garda offices in Dublin Airport and observed talking to a wall, he was imprisoned in Cloverhill Prison. Psychotic and unable to engage with the court process, he was essentially free to leave if he could prove himself well enough to sign a bail bond. But he was too unwell to do so. Instead, he was detained because no psychiatric hospital bed was available. Tragically, he died in prison, just a day before a bed was to become available. His story is not an isolated incident but one of hundreds reviewed by RTÉ Investigates dating back to 2012.
Here’s where it gets even more contentious: The Council of Europe’s Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT) highlighted Omoragbon’s case, referring to him as 'Prisoner D.D.' They noted that he was placed in a Close Supervision punishment cell (CSC) not because he was disruptive, but because he was mentally ill. The CPT’s president, Alan Mitchell, called out the glaring red flags: a mentally unwell man, placed in isolation, who stopped eating or drinking in the 48 hours before his death. This raises a troubling question: Are prisons becoming de facto psychiatric wards, and at what human cost?
Omoragbon’s family, speaking from Spain, shared their heartbreak. His wife, Edith, described him as a devout Christian who would have given anything to help others, yet when he needed help, no one was there. She revealed that he had managed diabetes and a history of psychiatric illness, but had suffered a relapse while visiting family in Cork. Trying to return to Spain for treatment, he was stopped from boarding a plane due to his condition. By then, he was in the midst of a mental health crisis, fixated on religious messaging and chanting. Gardaí wanted him to leave the airport, but he couldn’t, and his interaction with a wall led to his arrest.
Records show that no one in the criminal justice system wanted to detain Omoragbon, but there was nowhere in the health system to care for him in his condition. His death prompted reviews by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and the CPT, both of which underscored the systemic failures that led to his tragic end.
But here’s the part that should spark debate: Twenty years ago, a government policy called 'A Vision for Change' was introduced to address these very issues. It included plans for regional Intensive Care Recovery Units, forensic mental health teams, and high-support residences. Yet, it was never fully implemented. Minister Butler argues that the focus should now be on its refreshed 2020 version, 'Sharing the Vision,' which she claims has a national implementation committee and quarterly progress reports. But critics point out that 'A Vision for Change' had a clear funding plan—selling off old psychiatric hospital lands to fund new facilities—which was never executed. Today, there are fewer than 20 Intensive Care Recovery beds in the country, and no regional forensic mental health teams exist.
Without such services, prisons are left to manage a crisis they’re ill-equipped to handle. Professor Conor O'Neill, who leads the in-reach psychiatric service in Cloverhill Prison, revealed that the number of actively psychotic individuals in the prison is more than double the 27 supported medical beds available. There are over 70 psychiatric patients in the facility, part of more than 340 held in prisons nationwide. Many are on remand for low-level crimes, with no hospital alternative.
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Is it fair to incarcerate individuals whose crimes are a direct result of untreated mental illness? And if not, what should be done to bridge the gap between the criminal justice system and mental health care?
The stories of families like the Rosneys further highlight the human cost of this crisis. Courtney Rosney, a 23-year-old mother, spoke lovingly of her father, Ivan, who died at 37 after being restrained by prison officers. For years, his family knew only that he died in custody, with no inquest or answers. It took Courtney’s public appeal for the Justice Minister to release an investigation report into his death, which expressed 'deep reservations' about the restraint used and the injuries he suffered. The report revealed that Ivan, who had schizophrenia, had been turned away from mental health services before his arrest.
Minister Butler acknowledges that there needs to be a middle ground between the Central Mental Hospital and prisons for those with low-level mental health issues. But is this enough? Twenty years ago, 'A Vision for Change' proposed exactly that—community-based forensic mental health teams. Yet, as Professor Brendan Kelly noted, the policy was never fully implemented. So, here’s the final question for you: What will it take for us to finally prioritize mental health care over incarceration? And what role should the public play in demanding accountability?
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this article, resources are available through Helplines – RTÉ or Supporting People Affected By Mental Ill Health. The full documentary, RTÉ Investigates: The Psychiatric Care Scandal, is available to watch on the RTÉ Player (https://www.rte.ie/player/series/rt%C3%A9-investigates-the-psychiatric-care-scandal/10020496-00-0000?epguid=IH10020495-26-0001).
