More cases of child neglect are being referred to the country’s care services, said the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, yesterday as she outlined plans for a standalone referendum on children’s rights later this year.

PRISON inspectors claim a female inmate has suffered a “serious violation of her human rights” and that other women in Dochas Prison were subjected to “unnecessary humiliation” by being ordered to strip naked in front of male staff for an internal body scan.

NEARLY 200 prisoners have registered to vote in Election 2011, significantly down on the 2007 election.

PRISON bosses are planning to address persistent problems regarding the supply of drugs over jail walls and the lack of security cameras in key prisons.

PRISON officers were stunned when a refuse collector handed over a loaded semi-automatic pistol during a security check.

EIGHT prisoners have been disciplined after it was discovered they were accessing their Bebo website using mobile phones.

PRISON authorities are “ignoring” the high prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among inmates.

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

THE row over the move of the Central Mental Hospital to a new prison site has taken a major twist with the emergence of the highly critical views of the hospital’s medical boss.

A POWERFUL European torture watchdog has made initial observations to the Government following a 12-day visit to Ireland.

AN independent inspectorate is to be set up for child detention schools, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan said yesterday.