Europe’s human rights watchdog today urged the Irish authorities to crack down on ill-treatment in prisons and impose “severe sanctions” on prison staff using unnecessary violence to deal with inmates.

VIOLENCE in Irish prisons is on the increase with growing numbers of prisoners seeking protection from fellow inmates, a report from an international human rights watchdog has found.

IF one is given to airing opinions on something as important as society’s treatment of the mentally ill, then it is only proper one is familiar with the real facts of the situation, as well as overall intent and trend.