In response to a legal challenge from a rabbi, Cloverhill Prison in Dublin has assured the High Court of its intention to revise its procedures in providing kosher food to its inmates. The courts have requested an investigation into the detention of Rabbi Jonathan Abraham, 47, from London, claiming that his human rights are being infringed in the prison. Rabbi Abraham has been remanded in the prison on charges of conducting an unauthorized medical procedure concerning a child’s circumcision in Dublin.
Rabbi Abraham asserts the prison’s failure to provide him with kosher food, prepared according to Jewish religious principles, is a breach of his rights. It is a requirement of kosher food that it be made using kosher utensils, certified ingredients and by personnel trained in kosher methods, with its certification coming from an authorised source.
Speaking before Ms Justice Nuala Jackson at a High Court session on Saturday, Rabbi Abraham expressed that despite his recurrent petitions to the prison officials, his issue was not acknowledged. He recalled being served chicken in a cardboard box which was allegedly kosher, as attested by handwriting on the box – the standard package for prison meals.
According to kosher norms, food is considered unacceptable until proven otherwise. A kosher chicken is expected to be delivered in a sealed package following a specific order. Rabbi Abraham doubted the alleged chicken’s legitimacy after seeing its source tray overflowing with multiple pieces of chicken.
Since his imprisonment on August 1st, Abraham detailed his meals to have consisted of breakfast cereals including Weetabix and Cornflakes, along with boiled potatoes and peas, and on occasion, fruit.
The assistant governor of Cloverhill Prison, Paul O’Neill, later provided testimony, stating that they had communicated Mr Abraham’s dietary needs to the kitchen supervisor. The supervisor had looked up the details online.
Mr O’Neill admitted, under scrutiny from Senior Counsel Michael O’Higgins, that the kitchen head was not well-versed in kosher meal preparation.
“The kitchen staff did their utmost to cater to Mr Abraham’s needs,” he remarked. “There was never a case of trying to re-package a tray-served chicken. We did our utmost to accommodate Mr Abraham.”
He also noted that the prison has initiated effort to procure kosher meals from a certified source. However, due to the Jewish Sabbath falling on Saturday, this task proved impossible.
“Our method of procuring kosher food will be changed,” he informed.
Mr O’Higgins condemned the State for drastically undermining Mr Abraham’s rights. “The court-provided evidence is frankly appalling to me”, he claimed.
“Feeding a prisoner is as basic as it gets. Had we not intervened through a court proceeding, they would have continued with their routine. This renders his custodial situation illegal.
“The State claims it’s improving. While this is good news, expecting Mr Abraham to go back to prison on the premise that the situation will improve is unfair. My client should be granted bail in the meantime.”
Mr Abraham’s bail request was rejected at an August 1st hearing due to the grave nature of the case. Detective Garda Megan Furey cited “considerable risk of absconding”, given Mr Abraham being well-off, a father to 10 kids, but doesn’t have connections locally.
A judgement on the issue will be delivered by Ms Justice Jackson on Sunday.