logo
Prison systems 'likely to reach breaking point' as overcrowding gets worse

Prison systems 'likely to reach breaking point' as overcrowding gets worse

Irish Examiner12 hours ago
Prison overcrowding has reached such a crisis that current inmate numbers are already greater than the recommended capacity of the prison system after 1,500 more spaces are built by 2030.
An official report said that even if the commitment in the 2025 Programme for Government is fully met, the recommended capacity of Irish prisons in 2030 would be 5,412.
That's less than the 5,485 prisoners currently in Irish jails, as of July 2.
The Future Prison Capacity Report Working Group Report, set up by previous justice minister Helen McEntee, estimated that the projected prison population would be between 5,600 and 6,450 by 2035.
The report said the operational capacity of prisons, as recommended by international inspection bodies, is 90%, with spare capacity to account for sudden surges, such as large-scale incidents.
Irish prison occupancy rate currently stands at 118% — with bed capacity at 4,672.
The highest rates are in Limerick Female (148%), Dochas Women's Prison (128%), Cork Prison (126%) and Mountjoy Prison (124%). None of the closed prisons are less than 100%.
'Prison overcrowding leads to unsafe conditions, increased violence, and diminished rehabilitative opportunities,' the report said. 'Overcrowding forces prisoners to sleep on cell floors, strains staff resources, and heightens tensions, resulting in more assaults on both prisoners and officers.
"In 2024, prisoner-on-prisoner direct physical assaults increased 31% on the previous year and are up 130% against 2022 figures.'
The working group made this warning about gross overcrowding: 'Operating at occupancy rates far above the established capacity introduces significant risk and at a certain point of occupancy, systems in the prison are likely to reach a breaking point (ability to feed people, to allow visits, ability to separate prisoners for security reasons).'
The report spells out the risks of such high levels of overcrowding for the Irish Prison Service (IPS):
Compromised safety and security due to chronic overcrowding;
Increased violence and assaults on staff;
Unstructured early releases undermining public safety and justice;
Infection control challenges, raising the risk of disease outbreaks.
Higher levels of contraband, leading to drug-related illness and overdoses;
Staff retention issues, absenteeism, and industrial relations challenges.
The Working Group comprised senior civil servants in the Department of Justice and IPS as well as a governor, with independent chair John Murphy. Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan recently brought the report to the Cabinet.
The report said the existing capital plan was expected to increase prison capacity to 5,614 by 2030/2031, through the creation of 1,100 spaces.
'Taking a 90% occupancy rate across the whole estate that would provide spaces for approximately 5,052 people.' Prison numbers are currently 400 over that.
'Increasing the build to 1,500 places increases capacity to 6,014 spaces at 100% occupancy, 5,713 at 95% occupancy and at 90% occupancy creates space for 5,412 people.'
The working group recommended that Arbour Hill be decommissioned over the coming decade. File picture: Billy Higgins
It stressed that this model 'assumes that all existing prisons remain in use', with the working group recommending that Arbour Hill be decommissioned over the coming decade - meaning its 135 inmates would need to go elsewhere.
The report recommended that the acceleration of existing plans for large-scale projects, by seeking initial infrastructure exemptions, should be 'urgently explored'. It said this would reduce timelines by 12-18 months.
Mr O'Callaghan said he secured the agreement of the Cabinet for this measure, which, he said, would deliver 960 extra spaces sooner.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Moment drug smugglers set fire to own yacht to destroy huge cocaine haul after being chased by cop boat off hols hotspot
Moment drug smugglers set fire to own yacht to destroy huge cocaine haul after being chased by cop boat off hols hotspot

The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Moment drug smugglers set fire to own yacht to destroy huge cocaine haul after being chased by cop boat off hols hotspot

THIS is the dramatic moment drug smugglers set their own yacht alight to destroy their gargantuan cocaine haul. Moments before, the two men had been chased by a police boat just off the coast of holiday hotspot Tenerife. 6 Drug smugglers set their own yacht alight 6 Footage shows one of the men working desperately to set fire to the drug stash 6 Cops sprayed the boat to put out the flames Unbelievable footage shows the tense boat chase, with multiple cop yachts surrounding the drug vessel. Once the smugglers realised there was no escape it seems, they deliberately set the boat on fire. The panicked smugglers are seen trying to start a blaze - and are eventually successful. The pair risk their lives on the choppy sea as the boat quickly becomes engulfed in flames. read more news The blaze not only put themselves in danger but surrounding cops too, as the vessel could have exploded at any time. Cops were captured in the footage desperately trying to put the fire out with strong hosepipes. The drug smugglers, one of French nationality and the other Dutch, jumped into the sea. One of them was said to be very seriously injured. Most read in The US Sun The sailing boat was intercepted by the police about 50 miles from the Canary Islands. The boat eventually sank, taking most of the drugs down with it, but the crew of the police patrol boat "Sacre" managed to recover 25kg of cocaine. Moment panicked captain of MV Matthew drug ship orders crew to burn drugs while Irish warship in 'hot pursuit' The operation was part of the plan to intensify the investigation, surveillance and control of the cocaine smuggling in the Canary Islands. A tip-off was received about a boat close to the holiday island, and was said to contain a significant amount of narcotic substance on board. The plan was to transfer the haul to another boat, a semi-rigid type, which would be take the drugs to the Spanish coast. A police spokesman said: "The maritime operation was highly risky for Custom's patrol officers due to the rough seas and the fire intentionally set by the vessel's crew to destroy the cocaine and the sailboat. "The swift action of Customs Surveillance Service officers allowed them to initially extinguish the fire and complete the boarding of the vessel. "They also recovered part of the cargo before the fire reignited, ultimately destroying most of the haul of cocaine and the vessel transporting it, a sloop named Lona." The two crew members of the sailboat have been arrested. The man who was seriously injured in the fire was transported, presumably to hospital , via chopper by Maritime Rescue. The two Customs Surveillance Service vessels, along with the detainees and the recovered drugs, were brought into Tenerife's capital of Santa Cruz. The operation was carried out by the Civil Guard, National Police and Customs Surveillance in association with the British and American authorities. 6 Only part of the boat was decimated 6 The two men were arrested 6 Cops had been chasing the yacht

Man arrested after multiple attempted explosive devices placed in locations around country
Man arrested after multiple attempted explosive devices placed in locations around country

The Journal

time3 hours ago

  • The Journal

Man arrested after multiple attempted explosive devices placed in locations around country

A MAN HAS been arrested as part of an investigation into multiple attempted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) placed in various locations around the country. Gardaí arrested the man, who is in his 40s, yesterday evening in Co Monaghan. It follows the discovery of an 'unexplained device' near an Aughinish Alumina factory in County Limerick last week. The device was found close to an oil tank at the facility on Thursday and the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit used controlled detonations to sever key components from gas cylinders. The controlled detonations were followed by a technical examination by gardaí and army experts. The Journal understands that the arrested man is suspected of targeting water infrastructure sites as well as Aughinish Alumina. Advertisement The type of IED in question involved two gas cylinders with a battery attached to one of the cylinders, which can be heated to trigger an explosion. The device is a method known to be used at times by under-resourced insurgents in war zones. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has also been involved in the investigation. Sources said that the items used in the bombs were sourced outside the Irish state. The arrested man is being detained at a garda station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. 'An Garda Síochána continues to liaise with our colleagues in the PSNI in relation to this investigation,' a garda statement said this afternoon. Additional reporting by Niall O'Connor Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Wife of one of 10 men charged in Cork drugs case died of cancer while he was in custody, court told
Wife of one of 10 men charged in Cork drugs case died of cancer while he was in custody, court told

Irish Examiner

time8 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Wife of one of 10 men charged in Cork drugs case died of cancer while he was in custody, court told

The wife of one of 10 men charged in connection with a suspected multi-million euro drug smuggling operation through West Cork last year died of cancer while he was detained for the alleged offence. A psychological report for Juan Antonio Gallardo Barroso, aged 56, of no fixed address in Spain, was requested at the Special Criminal Court by defence barrister Cathal McGrealy, BL. Mr Barosso's wife died of cancer during his time in detention in Ireland and he has been suffering ongoing psychological issues, Mr McGrealy said. Justice Karen O'Connor extended her sympathies to Mr Barroso and acknowledged that this must have been extremely difficult for him. She extended legal aid for the psychological report to be commissioned. Mr Barroso is next due in the Special Criminal Court on Wednesday at 11am with a Spanish interpreter. "Progress" on the case is expected soon, Mr McGrealy said. Four men charged in connection with the same suspected multi-million euro drug smuggling operation are now set to have their sentence hearings on July 21. Gardaí arrested the 10 men in March last year during operations in the villages of Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen in West Cork, where a jeep, camper van, articulated truck, and rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected drug smuggling operation. File picture Dutch national Kiumaars Ghabiri, aged 52; Spanish nationals Mario Angel Del Rio Sanz, aged 45 of no fixed address, Spain; and Anuar Rahui Chairi, aged 42, from Marbella; and Serbian national Aleksander Milic, aged 46, also appeared in the Special Criminal Court on Monday. The men were flanked by Dutch, Serbian and Spanish interpreters. Their sentence hearings had been scheduled for Modnay in the Special Criminal Court but they were adjourned. They are four of 10 men charged with conspiring with one another to import controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 on dates between February 27 and March 14, 2024, both dates inclusive. The alleged offence is contrary to Section 15 B(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Gardaí arrested the 10 men in March last year during operations in the villages of Tragumna and Leap near Skibbereen in West Cork, where a jeep, camper van, articulated truck, and rigid inflatable boat were seized as part of the suspected drug smuggling operation. Remaining accused The only Irish national arrested as part of the operation, Sean Curran, aged 38, with an address at Carrickyheenan, Aughnacloy, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, also appeared in court on Monday. He is on bail and was remanded on continuing bail on the same terms until he is to appear again on July 21 at the Special Criminal Court when a trial date may be set. The court heard that on that date, lawyers would 'have a better idea' about how long the trial should take. His co-accused Pedro Pablo Ojeda Ortega, aged 36, of Cadiz, represented by Brendan Grehan SC instructed by solicitor Eddie Burke, asked for his client's case to be put to July 21 when sentence hearings are already scheduled for some of his co-accused. It may be possible that some progress has been made on the case at that stage, he said. Angel Serran Padilla, aged 40, of Malaga, represented by Michael Bowman SC, will also be before the Special Criminal Court on July 21. Progress is also expected on his case at that time. Justice O'Connor also extended legal aid for a psychological report to be prepared for Mr Padilla. Two other men charged regarding the offences, Ali Ghasemi Mazidi, aged 50, with an address in the Netherlands, and Raul Tabares Garcia, aged 48, of Cadiz in Spain, are also to have trial dates set on July 21 in the Special Criminal Court. Their trials are likely to take four to six weeks, the court previously heard. The men were arrested following dramatic garda raids in West Cork on March 14, 2024. An articulated truck and a SUV were intercepted at Tragumna Pier and a Zefiro campervan was surrounded and stopped by detectives around 15 km away in the village of Leap. The men were before the Hon. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, Her Hon. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Marie Keane at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday. Read More Bilingual barrister comes to aid of 'nervous' translator in Special Criminal Court

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store