A chaplain has been denied entry to a prison because he refused to shave off his beard.
Deacon Seamus Talbot was told he could not enter Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon following an order from the prison governor that anyone accessing the building must be clean-shaven, which is part of health and safety protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Irish Prison Service has confirmed the national policy.
"This is to ensure the effectiveness of the face-masks that are required to be worn. This is just one, from a wide range of measures which have been introduced to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19 and to help ensure that the health and well-being of all of our staff and those in our custody is protected," a spokesperson said.
The IPS added that "all staff, including staff of Irish Prison Service Headquarters, are required to be clean-shaven when attending for duty in prison locations. A chaplain has recently been appointed to Castlerea Prison and the service to prisoners continues to be provided along with all other services."
When asked if prisoners have to be clean-shaven, the IPS said "prisoners only wear masks in certain areas, for example, if they are moving from the landing onto the exercise yard or to access different services. They have also been advised that for masks to be effective, they should be clean-shaven."
The spokesperson said it was probably not the case that all prisoners were clean-shaven.
Deacon Talbot, who is a part-time chaplain, refused to shave his beard, which he is understood to have worn for decades. As a result, the governor said he would not be allowed entry to the facility.
This meant the 340 prisoners in Castlerea did not have access to the chaplain over the Christmas period.
Duties ordinarily undertaken by prison chaplains include informing prisoners of the death of a close relative.
Deacon Talbot was ordained a deacon for the Elphin diocese in 2012. Deacons are laypeople who can undertake aspects of a priest's duties, including officiating at weddings, funerals, and baptisms.
The stand-off over his beard developed soon after he took up his duties as a chaplain in early November, following the retirement of his predecessor.
It is understood talks are continuing to resolve the issue.
