PRISON officers and prisoner rights activists have backed questions raised by Mountjoy Prison governor, John Lonergan, about Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s plans to introduce mandatory drug testing and no-contact prison visits to combat drug use in jails.

GARDAÍ and the army were last night examining two nail bombs thrown over perimeter walls into Limerick prison.

The Prison Officers Association says the announcement of the imminent closure of Mountjoy Prison is evidence of further provocation on the part of the Minister for Justice.

THE Department of Justice and the Prison Service have used overtime by prison officers as the cheaper option for many years.