Northern Irish prisoner's eye gouging prompts calls for investigation
Sean
Lynch, who has been left permanently blind, also mutilated his
testicles and slashed wrists in his cell at Maghaberry prison
A guard on patrol at Maghaberry prison, near Belfast, where the incident occurred. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA Archive
Northern Ireland's
prison service has been challenged to hold an urgent review into how a
prisoner at the province's top-security jail was able to gouge his eyes
out and mutilate his testicles inside his cell earlier this month.
Sean Lynch, an inmate from Derry city, has been left permanently blind after he inflicted the injuries on himself while on remand at Maghaberry prison outside Belfast.
The 23-year-old's family have called for an investigation into the incident, in which he also slashed his wrists.
Derry member of the Northern Ireland assembly Pat Ramsey has written to devolved justice minister David Ford asking him to investigate a "shameful failure of the duty of care".
Lynch's family told the Derry Journal that the injuries were self-inflicted while Lynch was on remand in Maghaberry sometime between 2 and 3 June.
Ramsey said there should be an urgent case review into the incident. He added: "This is an extremely distressing case for this young man and his loved ones, who I have spoken with. They rightly cannot understand how their son was able to inflict such horrific injuries on his body when he was meant to be, it is believed, under enhanced supervision.
"Something has gone badly wrong, and a thorough investigation must take place to ensure this never happens again."
Gary Donnelly, a recently elected independent republican councillor and former Real IRA prisoner, took Lynch's family to meet a group of Irish parliamentarians to discuss the cause.
Donnelly said: "I brought them up to tell their story and the TDs (members of the Irish Dáil) were shocked at what had happened and said they would look into it.
"I think the treatment of this young man is a disgrace and the prison staff who were obviously negligent in his care should be suspended pending a full investigation."
Sean Lynch, an inmate from Derry city, has been left permanently blind after he inflicted the injuries on himself while on remand at Maghaberry prison outside Belfast.
The 23-year-old's family have called for an investigation into the incident, in which he also slashed his wrists.
Derry member of the Northern Ireland assembly Pat Ramsey has written to devolved justice minister David Ford asking him to investigate a "shameful failure of the duty of care".
Lynch's family told the Derry Journal that the injuries were self-inflicted while Lynch was on remand in Maghaberry sometime between 2 and 3 June.
Ramsey said there should be an urgent case review into the incident. He added: "This is an extremely distressing case for this young man and his loved ones, who I have spoken with. They rightly cannot understand how their son was able to inflict such horrific injuries on his body when he was meant to be, it is believed, under enhanced supervision.
"Something has gone badly wrong, and a thorough investigation must take place to ensure this never happens again."
Gary Donnelly, a recently elected independent republican councillor and former Real IRA prisoner, took Lynch's family to meet a group of Irish parliamentarians to discuss the cause.
Donnelly said: "I brought them up to tell their story and the TDs (members of the Irish Dáil) were shocked at what had happened and said they would look into it.
"I think the treatment of this young man is a disgrace and the prison staff who were obviously negligent in his care should be suspended pending a full investigation."
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