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

TWO prison governors are being paid €90,000 a year each a year for running empty prisons.

THE Inspector of Prisons, Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen, has delivered a scathing attack on the Government for its failure to support his office and act on his complaints about prison conditions.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has revealed that is considering demolishing Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.