The suspect in the fatal stabbing of a “model inmate” at Cork Prison was cleared for kitchen duty despite a history of violent knife crime.

A prisoner who is so disruptive prison officers have to wear riot gear to deal with him has been given a PlayStation and a fish tank in a bid to pacify him, a prison officers’ conference has heard.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is being called on to apologise on behalf of the State to the women and children who resided at mother and baby homes.

Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton said he has Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s full support as he remained committed to plans to cut the pay of low earners despite concern from Labour TDs.

Calls have been made to speed up plans for a new prison for Spike Island following a series of chronic overcrowding problems and a number of violent incidents in Cork and Dublin prisons in recent days.

BULLYING and harassment are now major issues for prison officers, the conference heard.

A €70 MILLION prison is to be built on Spike Island in Cork Harbour, Justice Minister Michael McDowell revealed yesterday.

THE return of the revolving prison door is “inevitable”, such is the overcrowding crisis in jails, prison officers claimed yesterday.

HOSPITAL consultants have warned they will “walk off the job” if any member is sued over the failure to resolve a row over who is liable for claims of past medical negligence.

HOSPITAL consultants yesterday called for an independent facilitator to head up talks to resolve a crisis over medical insurance cover.

PRISON officers didn’t pull any punches yesterday in a bitter attack on Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s “master plans” for the Prison Service.

It is easy to sympathise with the frustration and exasperation expressed by prison officers at the latest solutions proffered by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to cure some of the ills affecting the service.

THE closure of an open prison for juvenile criminals does nothing for the well-being of young people and their future in society, a conference was told yesterday.