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Prison cell installations of remote monitoring devices may occur in Ireland due to an increase in death rates among inmates.

Prison staff will be notified via remote medical emergency detectors if inmates display indicators of serious health issues.

Prison cells in Ireland to potentially install remote surveillance equipment due to an increase in...
Prison cells in Ireland to potentially install remote surveillance equipment due to an increase in inmate fatalities.

Prison cell installations of remote monitoring devices may occur in Ireland due to an increase in death rates among inmates.

Remote "Signs of Life" Monitors to be Installed in Irish Prisons

In a bid to improve the safety of inmates, the Irish Prison Service (IPS) is considering the installation of remote "signs of life" monitors in prison cells. The move follows concerns raised by the Office of Inspector of Prisons about a dramatic increase in the deaths of people in custody last year.

According to the IPS, the assessment of the technology is ongoing, and a working group has been established to examine its potential. Cloverhill and Limerick prisons have been identified as potential sites for a pilot project.

The technology, which monitors several health indicators including movement, breathing, and heartbeat, can provide early warning of a medical emergency. It could also be useful in monitoring prisoners who may have ingested drugs to smuggle them into prison, as suggested by Chief Inspector of Prisons Mark Kelly.

The IPS is currently undertaking market research to "identify a product which can provide minimally invasive monitoring of prisoner life signs". The service is also awaiting legal advice from the Chief State Solicitors Office regarding the legality of installing the technology in cells housing vulnerable prisoners.

Last year, there were a record 22 deaths in prison custody, an 83% increase on the previous year. The death of a severely mentally-ill Spanish resident in Cloverhill Prison, and another prisoner in 2024, prompted recommendations for the introduction of remote monitoring of vital signs technology.

Similarly, nine people died while on temporary release in 2024, and another inmate died after suffering a medical emergency during transfer to hospital. Relying on a prisoner's cellmate to raise the alarm if they have a medical emergency is not considered sufficient by Mark Kelly, nor is visual observation by prison staff from outside their cells always sufficient to detect a risk to life.

Preliminary figures for 2025 show the increase has stabilised somewhat, with eight people dying in custody in the first seven months of the year. The IPS is hopeful that the installation of remote "signs of life" monitors will help reduce this number in the future.

While no definitive trial results or full roll-out status have been publicly confirmed as of August 2025, it is likely that Irish prison cells will be fitted with these remote monitors in the near future. The adoption of new monitoring technologies, as part of ongoing reform strategies, may help address the significant prison overcrowding and pressure on facilities.

Technology intended for monitoring various health indicators, such as movement, breathing, and heartbeat, could potentially be used to provide early warnings of medical emergencies within the context of mental-health therapies-and-treatments, considering the concerns about the rise in deaths in prison custody. The Irish Prison Service's ongoing assessment of the technology might also prove beneficial in detecting the ingestion of drugs amongst inmates, a point raised by Chief Inspector of Prisons Mark Kelly.

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