ARIANE O'BYRNE
I WAS GIVEN the opportunity to interview Gary Cunningham on his experience of life in prison and how he has turned his life around since.
"MY LIFE IN PRISON was nothing like I expected. I feel we are sensationalised by American sit-coms and documentaries as to what "life inside" will be like. It is a horrid place. I was in Mounty (Mount Joy), and I can tell you that I can STILL get the smell in my nostrils. The separation from your family and loved-ones can be unbearable at times...but it is no one else's fault that you are there...so you MUST get on with it" states ex-prisoner Gary Cunningham who was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for possession of cannabis with the intent to supply.
Originally a Finglas native from a respected family, Gary who has spent time in Mount Joy, Loughan House and a detention Center in County Cavan opened up to me about his fight with alcohol and how he fought to change his life around and make the most of his time behind bars. In total Cunningham spent a total of two years and nine months inside. With him now being a painter, a musician and an author of the best seller book "Finding myself in an Irish Prison" he proves that everyone can live to the best versions of themselves, even after being in prison.
"I found settling back in at home a little tough at the start. I was really missing Fitzer (Friend of Gary's in prison) ...I was actually accustomed to a wafer-thin blue mattress and poxy pillows.... another scary example of how institutionalized I had become" Gary admits about being released back into the real world again.
Stacie Halligan is the Prison Liaison for Ballyfermot, Palmerstown and Chapelizod. She also works at FUSION* whose main aim is to link recovery from drug use with training and employment.
Stacie Halligan is the Prison Liaison for Ballyfermot, Palmerstown and Chapelizod. She also works at FUSION* whose main aim is to link recovery from drug use with training and employment.
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Stacie works with prisoners right up to the day of their release supporting them with them having somewhere to go and something to do.
Stacie said "The grass is always greener. The clients tend to get ‘Gate Fever’ a few months before they are due for release, a mixture of excitement and anxiety thinking of the outside. They tend to feel as though everything will be ok once they are released." But life isn't that simple, is it? A prisoner is going from being told what to do, when to do it, not having to fend for themselves, getting their meals made for them and then within a blink of an eye they usually have to jump right back into family life, worrying about money or facing addiction or not even having any family or friends to turn to. |
The re-offending rate in Ireland, within the first three years, currently stands at 62.3%, which is shockingly high. But if it’s true that the way you “do your time” will ultimately determine your future when they get out, reducing funding for education and training means that the re-offending rate will rise and do we want that as a country? No. “We can’t afford it” is what the Government is constantly saying but currently it costs the taxpayer roughly €1,842 a week to house a prisoner. So, if the offending rate were to go down due to successful education and training wouldn’t that be money well spent?
Researching STAT's of prison in Ireland in 2017, I found some shocking results and these are as follows:
While he spent his time on the inside Gary never received a letter nor a visit from any of his friends who he used to spend time with before his arrest. Stacie informed me that people actually come back into her after serving one to eight-year sentences confessing to her that they miss prison but they're too scared to admit it to friends or family. People obviously will turn their backs, but we never think of how people like Gary feel coming out of Prison back into 'normal life'. You wouldn't ignore a stray on the road begging for love or friendship so why do we do it to human beings?
Researching STAT's of prison in Ireland in 2017, I found some shocking results and these are as follows:
- There were 3,753 people in prison custody in Ireland (01 August 2017)
- The rate of imprisonment in Ireland is approximately 75 per 100,000 of population (August 2017).
- There are 60 people in prison slopping out, without in-cell sanitation.
- The majority of Irish prisoners have never sat a State exam and over half left school before the age of 15.
- Dóchas women’s prison situated on the North Circular road is operating at 115% of its recommended maximum capacity.
- 85% of offenders are back in custody within four years.
While he spent his time on the inside Gary never received a letter nor a visit from any of his friends who he used to spend time with before his arrest. Stacie informed me that people actually come back into her after serving one to eight-year sentences confessing to her that they miss prison but they're too scared to admit it to friends or family. People obviously will turn their backs, but we never think of how people like Gary feel coming out of Prison back into 'normal life'. You wouldn't ignore a stray on the road begging for love or friendship so why do we do it to human beings?
We are all human, we all make mistakes but if a man/woman makes the wrong choice in life and ends up being imprisoned but whilst in prison they're constantly working on themselves fighting to come out to a fresh start, why doesn't society give them a second chance? Obviously, the world is made up of 'bad-boned people' who don't want help or don't want to turn over a new leaf, but that does not mean society can paint every ex-prisoner with the same brush.
Rising from the ashes of his past Gary is an idol. With being a musician in the band Offenders where Gary and his friend known as Fitzer made whilst in Mount Joy, to working as a painter in a Hotel in Dublin to also being the author of bestseller "Joys of Joy, found myself in an Irish prison" to now his book being turned into a movie! He shows us that even if we step down the wrong path even by a tip-toe we can always fight our demons and come out a better person.
"Prison saved my life".
I have come out of this knowing that we don't actually live in a 'caring society' but a very judgmental world. Everyone has their battles and even though someone spends time behind bars, they can be the most kind-hearted souls you will ever come across and I've made a new friend for life.
To read more on Gary's story pick-up 'Joys of joy, finding myself in an Irish prison' to laugh, cry and see who Gary is for real- a genuine man who made one bad decision but is nothing but a Gentleman.
Rising from the ashes of his past Gary is an idol. With being a musician in the band Offenders where Gary and his friend known as Fitzer made whilst in Mount Joy, to working as a painter in a Hotel in Dublin to also being the author of bestseller "Joys of Joy, found myself in an Irish prison" to now his book being turned into a movie! He shows us that even if we step down the wrong path even by a tip-toe we can always fight our demons and come out a better person.
"Prison saved my life".
I have come out of this knowing that we don't actually live in a 'caring society' but a very judgmental world. Everyone has their battles and even though someone spends time behind bars, they can be the most kind-hearted souls you will ever come across and I've made a new friend for life.
To read more on Gary's story pick-up 'Joys of joy, finding myself in an Irish prison' to laugh, cry and see who Gary is for real- a genuine man who made one bad decision but is nothing but a Gentleman.