BREAKING: Roscrea man in isolation for five years raised in Dáil
Roscrea man Stephen Loughnane is in isolation due to a lack of appropriate placement
The case of a Roscrea man who has spent almost five years in uninterrupted seclusion in a Limerick prison and secure psychiatric facilities was raised in the Dáil.
North Tipperary TD and Labour Justice spokesperson, Deputy Alan Kelly, has called for immediate Government action following reports broadcast on RTÉ Investigates detailing the case of the Roscrea man who suffered a life changing brain injury.
Stephen Loughnane (28) has spent almost five years locked alone in small rooms in uninterrupted seclusion, in direct breach of modern psychiatric care standards and Deputy Kelly again raised his case in the Dáil on Tuesday and is in contact with his mother, Jacinta Graham.
Mr Loughnane, who was first placed in continuous seclusion in Limerick Prison in 2021, remains detained within the State’s psychiatric system. Deputy Kelly raised this with An Taoiseach in the Dáil and demanded urgent intervention and full accountability for the failures exposed.
“This case is deeply disturbing and should shock everyone who believes Ireland has moved beyond this kind of treatment," Deputy Kelly said.
"Stephen Loughnane, a man with a brain injury, spent almost five years locked alone in small rooms subjected to conditions that no modern mental health system should ever tolerate. This is not historic. This has happened on this Government’s watch.
“This man was first placed in continuous seclusion in Limerick Prison in 2021. From there, he was transferred to the old Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, and later to the new Central Mental Hospital in Portrane in November 2022, where he remains today.
"At every stage, the State failed to provide humane, therapeutic care. Instead, it relied on isolation and containment, despite overwhelming evidence that prolonged seclusion causes serious psychological harm.
“I raised this directly with An Taoiseach in the Dáil in 2021. I warned that this approach breached basic standards of care and dignity. I asked for action. Years later, nothing meaningful has changed. I have spoken directly with Stephen’s mother, Jacinta Graham, who has been a tireless and courageous advocate for her son.
"The fact that a mother has had to battle for years simply to secure humane treatment for her child represents a profound failure of political leadership and oversight.
“This case also raises serious questions about the use of prisons and high security psychiatric facilities to manage individuals with complex neurological and mental health needs. Limerick Prison was never an appropriate place for prolonged psychiatric seclusion.
"The repeated transfers between institutions suggest a system passing responsibility rather than delivering care. Government must act now. Silence is not acceptable,” Deputy Kelly said.