PRISONERS using bottles and plastic bags to urinate and defecate in front of each other in cramped cells are among the “degrading” and “debasing” conditions exposed by an international torture committee.

Concluding our series on the prison system, Cormac O’Keeffe examines government penal policy and finds rehabilitation is possible.

In part one of a three-day investigation Cormac O’Keeffe unveils new figures which reveal a worrying and growing crisis behind Ireland’s prison walls

MEDICAL staff at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) are strongly opposed to proposals within Government to relocate the hospital to a prison complex site.

The Government is expected to announce plans to establish an independent Garda Complaints Board this week.