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The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has appointed an external agency to investigate the governor’s retirement meeting from a prison that took place near the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The lunchtime event, which was attended by some 30 people, including senior staff from various prisons, was held to commemorate the retirement of the Governor of the Midlands, Ethel Gavin, who was then the second-highest official in the IPS.
It took place in the dining room of the Midlands prison in Portlaoise on March 27, the same day the total ban on prison visits was announced.
At the time, prison staff and the Association of Prison Officers (POA) raised concerns about how the event could affect efforts to keep the prison system free from Covid-19.
There were also concerns that an outbreak could lead to a large proportion of IPS’s management structure becoming ill or isolated at the same time.
Since then, the IPS has received a protected disclosure on various issues related to the management of the Midlands prison, including the event.
This complaint has been evaluated as admissible and referred to the professional consultancy Mazars for an independent investigation.
IPS declined to comment on the protected disclosure. He said the “CEO gave clear instructions” to Ms Gavin that “any large gathering, or large assembly of staff, to commemorate her retirement… Was not allowed.”
It is understood that the original plan was for 85 people to attend the event, but this was reduced due to the worsening public health situation.
Excuse me
Representatives from IPS headquarters in Longford, as well as staff from the Midlands, Portlaoise and Castlerea prisons attended. Two pipers from the IPS gang also traveled to “carry” Ms. Gavin from the prison grounds as part of the traditional retirement ceremony.
Ms. Gavin denied that the event was “a party” or a “big gathering” and said everyone had permission to be there. She said that the only non-IPS staff was her son. She said she did not break the rules and that social distancing was adhered to during the event.
Ms. Gavin suggested that she was being unfairly targeted in circumstances where IPS senior male staff have also held recent retirement events without controversy.
The Irish Times learned that then-Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan was informed of the planned event by a concerned former prison official three days ahead of schedule. He assured the former officer that “there will be no party.”
Later, Flanagan returned and said that he had been told there was no “party” and that his colleagues simply “applauded” Governor Gavin when she was released from prison.
Flanagan did not respond to requests for comment.
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