More than 290 prisoners have absconded from the country’s two open centres since 2010 – and 15 remain at large.

Plans are being put in place to deploy mobile phone blocking systems in prisons to prevent inmates running criminal operations from their cells.

The average cost of jailing the three Dundon brothers who were convicted of murder as well as other dangerous criminals at the State’s only high security prison shot up last year.

Some hardened criminals may soon swap ‘Glocks’ for garden hoes to tend to begonias and dahlias.

More than 41,000 sick days were taken by prison staff last year, at a cost of €7.5m to the taxpayer.

There is “no strong evidence” the drugs problem in Irish prisons is reducing, despite the massive security infrastructure put in place, according to a new report.

Transition year students in Tipperary have taken the innovation world by storm following their hugely successful “Bicycles agus Bróga” campaign.

An Irishman transferred to a jail here after being convicted in England in late 2006 on drugs charges has lost his High Court action aimed at securing his release next March.

Six years after a massive crackdown on mobile phones in prisons began, inmates in one jail have been granted permission to have them.

Sales of fake tan and Corona cigars in tuck shops around the country’s prison system contributed to revenues of more than €7.5m.

The Prison Service has introduced a “blanket ban” on all mobile phones in prisons, including those used by prison governors.

Get Rhythm are touring Irish prisons, much as Johnny played the penitentiaries in the US, says Jonathan deBurca Butler

The closure of almost 100 Garda stations has gone ahead as an unrepentant Alan Shatter insisted policing would not be damaged by the move.

A Lithuanian man, who was on the run from prison when he shot dead a man in Co Down, has today been jailed fo seven years.

Drug dealers, perpetrators of assaults, burglars, and robbers account for the bulk of inmates who are part of a supervised early release scheme.

THE abuse of legal tranquillisers, already a major problem in the community, is now a cause of concern in prisons.

Pill-popping prisoners are costing the State €3m a year — or almost €700 for every inmate in the system.

Prison officers are calling for an independent review of the gang problem in the country’s jails.

Three prisoners have been returned to custody after absconding from an open prison yesterday.

Alan Shatter has confirmed there are two other prisoners in homicide related cases that remain at large after walking free from “open prisons”.

Prison chief Michael Donnellan apologised “completely and unreservedly” yesterday for the decision to transfer garda killer Martin McDermott from a closed jail to an open prison.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has today apologised for the transfer of a Garda-killer to a low-security prison, from which he later escaped.

The Director General of the Irish Prison Service Michael Donnellan has apologised unreservedly for the decision to move an inmate from the Midlands prison to an open centre in Co. Cavan, from which he escaped twice.

It has emerged that a prisoner who escaped from an open prison earlier this month had absconded from the same facility once before.

The family of Garda Gary McLoughlin have expressed their shock and upset that the man found responsible for his death was sent to a low security prison from which he was able to escape.

A court in Derry has remanded Martin McDermott in custody, charged with assaulting three police officers, resisting a police officer, disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.

The Donegal man who escaped from a prison in Co Cavan on Thursday night has appeared before Derry magistrates court today.

A garda killer who escaped from an open prison faces multiple charges in Derry, it has emerged.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has ordered an investigation into how a Garda killer caught on the run in the North escaped from prison.

A garda killer who went on the run after escaping a low security prison has been caught in the North.

A manhunt is underway for a prisoner who escaped from a low-security jail in Co Cavan last night.

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

A total of 134 prisoners will be granted temporary release this Christmas, it was confirmed today.

PRISON bosses were last night taken to task for awarding contracts worth around €95 million to one company without going to tender.

Prison bosses were tonight taken to task for awarding contracts worth around €95m to one company without going to tender.

CONVICTED murderer Sean Courtney has an annual Mass said in prison for his victim, Patricia O’Toole, his father has revealed.

CONVICTED murderer Sean Courtney fathered a child while on day release visits to his partner and now wants a date set for his release.

Hundreds of inmates have been forced to double up in cells due to chronic overcrowding in the country's prisons, it emerged today.

ONE prisoner has died while in custody in an Irish jail every six weeks since the start of 2007, the Department of Justice has confirmed.

THE new prison inspector has found that a large percentage of inmates at an open centre are not engaged in any structured activity.

A man has been found dead in his cell at a prison in Co Cavan today.

Porridge used to be the staple diet of prisoners but lavish menus will now cost more than €6m a year, it emerged today.