The low number of prosecutions for the violence and sex attacks suffered by children in religious-run institutions has been criticised by Amnesty International.

THERE were 1,014 incidents of violence among prisoners in Irish jails during 2010, and more than 800 prisoners may be on protection at any one time.

LAST summer, the Prison Service issued a stark warning that Mountjoy was liable to erupt.

IRELAND has been highlighted by human rights group Amnesty International for failing to protect vulnerable children and the mentally ill and resisting probes into United States intelligence agencies’ use of Shannon Airport.

PERSISTENT overcrowding of Irish prisons is leading to higher suicide rates, aggression between inmates and the spread of infectious diseases, prison officers claimed last night.

The final inmate in a group of six who took part in a St. Stephen's Day riot at St Patrick's Institution in which four prison officers were injured has received a three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Five inmates who took part in a St. Stephen's Day riot at St. Patrick's Institution in which four prison officers were injured have received two and three year sentences in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh has called on the Government to drop its plan to build a super-prison at Thornton Hall.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has today called on the Government to release a new report on conditions in Garda stations by the Council of Europe’s anti-torture watchdog organisation.

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture has announced plans to carry out an inspection of Irish prisons next year.

CONTROVERSIAL Government plans to move the Central Mental Hospital to a new ‘super prison’ complex were dealt a blow yesterday after the State’s human rights watchdog came out strongly against the proposal.

LAST night’s Prime Time investigation again emphasised the need for a powerful and independent body to investigate complaints against gardaí.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday told prison officers he would go ahead with slashing the €60 million overtime bill.

INMATES made almost 50 complaints of ill-treatment at the hands of prison officers in the last two years.

CLAIMS of people being mistreated and beaten by gardaí have credibility, according to evidence gathered by a European rights’ watchdog.

THE continuing use of padded cells for prisoners with psychiatric problems amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, a European human rights body said yesterday.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has criticised the Government for continually denying people the right to have a lawyer present when being questioned by the Gardaí.