CAT/C/IRL/CO/2 Inter-prisoner violence 17. While noting the progress made to reduce the level of violence in prisons, the Committee is concerned: (a) About the increase in the level of violence, including sexual violence, among both male and female prisoners; (b) That 78 per cent of prison staff report that they have been assaulted in the course of their duties; (c) At the violent incidents that took place in Oberstown detention centre for juveniles in 2016 and 2017; (d) At the reported placement of juveniles presenting disciplinary issues for weeks in “single separation”, which may amount to solitary confinement; (e) At the death in prison of Gary Douch owing to the absence of appropriate mental health care for prisoners with mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities (arts. 2, 11 and 16). 18. The State party should: (a) Undertake thorough and impartial inquiries into all acts of violence committed in prison facilities and detention centres; (b) Enhance measures to prevent and reduce inter-prisoner violence by improving prison management and the ratio of staff to prisoners, and strengthen the monitoring and protection of vulnerable prisoners and those presenting disciplinary issues; (c) Provide training to prison staff and medical personnel on communication with and managing of inmates, including juveniles, and on detecting signs of vulnerability and disciplinary issues; (d) Abolish solitary confinement of minors as a disciplinary measure, strengthen existing and develop new educational and rehabilitation programmes aimed at encouraging pro-social behaviour, and improve extra-regime activities for minors; (e) Ensure that solitary confinement is never applied to persons with a psychosocial disability and ensure that they receive appropriate therapeutic treatment. Police complaints mechanism 19. While expressing its appreciation for the establishment of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, the Committee is concerned about: (a) The capacity of the Commission to function independently and effectively and to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment, including because of financial and staffing limitations; (b) The “leaseback” practice whereby complaints referred to the Commission are referred back to the Garda for investigation, which amounts to the police investigating itself; (c) The absence of information on the number of complaints which may relate to torture and ill-treatment and the low number of prosecutions initiated against the members of the Garda; (d) Limited public awareness about responsibilities (arts. 2, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16). 20. the Commission’s activities and The State party should: (a) Strengthen the independence and effectiveness of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to receive complaints relating to violence or ill-treatment by the police and to conduct timely, impartial and exhaustive inquiries into such complaints; 7