Courts / Roscommon / Report

Woman who dropped her trousers and underwear while going through prison security check brings damages action against State

Date
2015-04-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Croghan

Summary

A woman has brought a damages action against the State following an incident at Castlerea Prison in County Roscommon in May 2009. The applicant claims she was instructed by a prison officer to remove her jeans during a security screening before visiting her husband, and in doing so accidentally exposed herself. She alleges she suffered humiliation and psychological distress as a result and seeks damages for negligence and breach of duty, along with declarations that her constitutional rights were breached. The State denies the claims, contending the woman was never asked to remove her trousers and was treated appropriately by prison staff. In proceedings before the High Court, the prison officer involved gave evidence that he had only requested she remove outer garments as standard procedure and did not instruct her to take off her jeans. The case continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman who dropped her trousers and underwear while going through prison security check brings damages action against State. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 6th 2009 Incident
2015-04-22 Publication

Why: Nataliya Matviyenko claims she was told to take off her jeans, because they contained what were described as decorative metal buttons or studs, by a prison officer before going through a metal detector while visiting her husband at the Co Roscommon prison. CNI source report

Case subjects

Castlerea Prison

Applicant

Outcome: In her action Ms Matviyenko, a mother of two children, with an address at Leas na Coille, Ballybane, Galway claims she went to the prison to visit her now husband who was in 2009 serving a prison sentence for drink driving.