Prison security review after solicitor made to remove bra

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the incident was "wrong and needed to be addressed"

The Irish prison service is to review its security procedures after it was alleged a female solicitor was made to remove her bra at a Dublin prison before she could visit her client.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin described it as "shocking and unacceptable".

The woman said she felt traumatised and degraded but complied because the meeting was urgent.

The incident, first reported by the Irish Examiner, took place at Cloverhill Prison in June last year.

In her complaint, the woman said she was told by a male guard that the underwire of her bra had set off the metal detector and the garment would have to be removed.

Irish Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton, who has responsibility of the Irish Prison Service (IPS), has requested a report from the service's director general.

The Department of Justice said Ms Naughton and Justice Minister Heather Humphreys were "firmly of the belief" that no prison visitor should be asked to remove items of clothing.

It said the IPS was reviewing its procedures, including security screening, and that Ms Naughton "awaits the outcome of these reviews, which she has been told are being finalised, and completion of the report she has requested from the IPS on this matter".

The Irish Prison Service says it is not its policy to request visitors to remove under garments

"When she receives these documents, Minister Naughton will assess what further action may be required," it said.

"All visitors to prisons, including professional visitors, must be treated with the highest degree of respect, integrity and courtesy at all times."

Speaking in the Dáil (Irish parliament) on Tuesday, Mr Martin said the incident was "wrong and needed to be addressed".

"I can understand why the solicitor in question would have felt her dignity was taken from her and felt undermined by the request," Mr Martin said.

"It is not good enough in any shape or form."

He was responding to a question from Sinn Féin leader Mary-Lou McDonald, who said the woman had been "robbed of her dignity" and called for a full review of the prison's culture and practice.

In a statement, the IPS said it was not its policy to request people to remove their under garments to get access to a prison.

It said revised security screening protocols were put in place at the start of the Covid pandemic, which meant pat-down searches could not be carried out.

"The Irish Prison Service does not condone behaviour contrary to our standards of courtesy which may put at risk the rights of people to be treated with dignity and respect," it said.

"Allegations or claims of inappropriate behaviour by our staff are taken very seriously and are fully investigated."