Prison watchdog criticises single night nurse at Mountjoy after inmate death

A prison watchdog has said it is unacceptable that only one nurse was on duty at Mountjoy Prison to respond to medical emergencies for 755 prisoners on the night a well‑known Limerick gangland figure died in his cell.

The Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) report records that the lone nurse attempted CPR on the unresponsive David Stanners before midnight on 25 October 2023. Prison staff entered his cell at 11.54 pm after a prison officer had to obtain a master key to gain access.

At the Critical Incident Review Meeting on 31 October, the nurse described the difficulty of delivering prolonged CPR alone and recommended an additional night‑time nurse. The Chief Nurse Officer agreed, supporting the request.

Stanners, 51, of Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, was serving a life sentence for the 2003 murder of rival gang member Kieran Keane. His death was the fifth at Mountjoy in 2023 and the 18th in Irish Prison Service custody that year.

The OIP noted that the Irish Prison Service continues to refuse CPR training for prison officers, despite repeated recommendations, and highlighted that the prison population has since risen to over 1,000 inmates. The inspectorate’s 2025 follow‑up inspection still found only one night nurse, reiterating the call for a second nurse.

A second recommendation urged a clinical review by a doctor when nursing staff raise concerns about repeated requests for prescription medication, following a note that Stanners had frequently asked for paracetamol.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Maia Fotografia / Pexels.