€10,000 in bail payments missing from Limerick Prison safe
Gardaí at Roxboro Road station are conducting a criminal investigation into the missing money at the city’s Mulgrave Street prison, while the Irish Prison Service has launched an internal probe.
The money was stolen from an office not accessible to prisoners.
In cases where a prisoner has been granted bail, the money can either be lodged with the clerk of a court district or with the prison authorities before a release from custody is permitted.
According to the prison service, up to €60,000 can be lodged to secure the release of a prisoner.
It is believed the stolen cash had been bail money in respect of two released prisoners.
Regular audits are carried out on how much bail money is lodged and returned by prison authorities. An audit at Limerick Prison in recent weeks reportedly showed an unaccounted-for deficit.
Further inquiries showed €10,000 was missing from monies lodged for bail purposes. Gardaí were immediately alerted by prison management.
A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said: “We are carrying out an internal investigation and the gardaí are also carrying out their investigation.
“Members of staff have been interviewed.
“An extensive search has been carried out for the missing money in various files in the office, but nothing has shown up.”
He said many members of staff would have access to the general office as part of their work routine, but it was not accessible to prisoners.
“There are about 240 staff in Limerick prison, which holds about 220 male and 25 female prisoners at any one time,” he said.
The prison service spokesman said no bailsperson will be out of pocket over the disappearance.
If it is not recovered and nobody is charged and convicted of theft, the State will have to bear the loss.
Det Supt Jim Ryan said the investigation was continuing but there had been no arrests so far.
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