Prison

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#Prison

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>When the old prison closed, the local community was promised various community facilities on the site, none of which happened. File picture: Larry Cummins</p>

munster

'We’re only upsetting ourselves thinking we can stop them': Glen locals wary of new prison plans

Proposal by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan to demolish derelict old Cork Prison to make way for two new prison facilities on the site — one for 230 men and the other for 100 women

<p>As of Friday, October 9, Irish prisons were operating at 114% capacity, according to the Irish Prison Service.</p>

court and crime

'Very concerning': Homicide and sex offenders among 1, 600 given temporary release

<p>Ger Deering: 'I now believe that it is precisely because of the light that access to our office would shine in these areas that they were wilfully excluded by a deliberate provision in the legislation placing these people beyond our remit in 1980.'</p>

politics

Ombudsman slams 'deliberate policy' to prohibit his office from representing prisoners

Two men arrested after drone crashes into prison service college in Portlaoise

news

Two men arrested after drone crashes into prison service college in Portlaoise

Taoiseach can’t say if historic Cork prison can be saved

munster

Taoiseach can’t say if historic Cork prison can be saved

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

court and crime

Central Mental Hospital needs to open up capacity for rising number of prisoners with psychiatric issues

Cork councillors vote to protect old prison despite plans for new jail on site

Cork councillors vote to protect old prison despite plans for new jail on site

The historic building will now undergo a six-month protection process as the State considers demolition for a replacement facility

Tue, 29 Sep, 2026

Number of prison sentences outpacing community-based sanctions, report finds

Number of prison sentences outpacing community-based sanctions, report finds

The Probation report said the average cost of a Community Service Order is €1,450 a year, which compares to €103,000-a-year in the prison system

Mon, 28 Sep, 2026

Campaign to save old Cork Prison supported by Terence MacSwiney's grandson

Campaign to save old Cork Prison supported by Terence MacSwiney's grandson

Plans to demolish the former jail to build two new prison facilities stand opposed by local residents and campaigners

Fri, 25 Sep, 2026

Official Opening of the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane

Central Mental Hospital rehab unit will begin taking in patients this year

Long-delayed Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit is for people with complex psychiatric illnesses and associated violent behaviour

Mon, 07 Sep, 2026

Cork Prison death: Inquest hears that monitoring tech would not have saved Jamie Crowley

Cork Prison death: Inquest hears that monitoring tech would not have saved Jamie Crowley

Cork City Coroner’s Court heard that new monitoring systems are not a panacea

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Sharp rise in prisoners sharing exposed toilets in cells 'degrading' prisons inspector says

Sharp rise in prisoners sharing exposed toilets in cells 'degrading' prisons inspector says

Inspector says urgent action is needed to stop 'backslide' in sanitary conditions in jails after Irish Examiner reported two out of three prisoners are going to the toilet in front of other cellmates

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Death inquest hears call for better monitoring of prison inmates

Death inquest hears call for better monitoring of prison inmates

Jamie Crowley, 27, was found dead in his bed in Cork Prison by his cellmate on March 14, 2024.

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

Irish Cabinet meeting

Electronic tagging of offenders to begin this year

The electronic tagging pilot programme will become operational later this year, and will be rolled out on a phased basis

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Fórsa staff industrial action

Oberstown management say children should not be 'used' to escalate industrial dispute

Oberstown Children Detention Campus also warned against any use of “increased isolation, confinement, or other restrictive practices” during a planned a 12-hour work stoppage over what Fórsa says is a dispute regarding "resourcing and safe staffing at the campus"

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Sharp increase in prisoners using toilet in front of other cellmates

Sharp increase in prisoners using toilet in front of other cellmates

Problem worst in the two women's prisons as well as Mountjoy and Cork jails

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Pentonville Prison stock

Limited action on 2022 report on mental health, addiction, and prison

Implementation of taskforce recommendations still awaited

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Oberstown workers picket Department of Children over staffing dispute

Oberstown workers picket Department of Children over staffing dispute

The picket involving members of the Fórsa union coincides with a 10-hour work stoppage at the campus on Tuesday.

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

Call for old Cork prison to be preserved as heritage site

Call for old Cork prison to be preserved as heritage site

A talk by podcaster, historian, and former Sinn Féin councillor Eolan Ryng will take place outside the prison at noon on Sunday, August 23, as part of Heritage Week

Mon, 17 Aug, 2026

Coronavirus - Tue Jan 26, 2021

Man arrested after suspected fatal assault on prisoner at Wheatfield Prison

Gardaí and prison authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, with an autopsy due to establish the cause

Sat, 15 Aug, 2026

Oberstown faces further work stoppage due to concerns over resources and staffing

Oberstown faces further work stoppage due to concerns over resources and staffing

Fórsa trade union members plan to stage an eight-hour work stoppage from 9am on Tuesday

Mon, 10 Aug, 2026

Cathal Crotty to be released early from prison after assault on Natasha O'Brien

Cathal Crotty to be released early from prison after assault on Natasha O'Brien

Natasha O'Brien says she learned of Cathal Crotty's release through the media and renews criticism of systemic failures

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

Possible industrial action could exacerbate crisis in Ireland's prisons

Possible industrial action could exacerbate crisis in Ireland's prisons

Gabriel Keaveny, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association said their committee 'will be advising our members to vote for industrial action'

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

judgement of judge about legislation, authority, crime, government, justice, punishment, verdict at court decision by gavel. ham

Court psychiatric reports can lead to lifelong consequences for minor offences

At the heart of this issue lies a simple but vital principle: medical confidentiality. It is the foundation of trust between patient and doctor. Without it, people do not speak freely. Without it, care breaks down

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Legal aid row may put extra pressure on strained prison system

Legal aid row may put extra pressure on strained prison system

Irish Penal Reform Trust director warns of a further increase in the number of people remanded in custody in already overcrowded prisons

Sun, 12 Jul, 2026

'Just nine showers for 239 men': Prison overcrowding crisis deepens, says Inspector of Prisons

'Just nine showers for 239 men': Prison overcrowding crisis deepens, says Inspector of Prisons

The inspector's annual report, sent to the Department of Justice on March 31, was published by the department on Thursday

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Man in prison hands of behind hold Steel cage jail bars. offender criminal locked in jail.

Report urges greater investment in community sanctions over expanding prison capacity

Internal review recommends expanding community-based sentencing options as prison overcrowding reaches record levels despite planned capacity increases

Fri, 03 Jul, 2026

Victims react as convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally dies in prison aged 75

Victims react as convicted paedophile Bill Kenneally dies in prison aged 75

Death comes days after inquiry report and ahead of planned State apology to survivors

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Duty of care owed to prisoners

Irish Examiner view: Duty of care owed to prisoners

There are no addiction nurses employed by the Irish Prison Service, even though thousands of prisoners suffer from addiction issues

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Irish prisons have no addiction nurses despite thousands of inmates needing support

Irish prisons have no addiction nurses despite thousands of inmates needing support

Experts warn the absence of specialist addiction nurses leaves a major gap in prisoner healthcare services

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Inmate's death prompts warning from prison inspector about dangers 'of self-inflicted injuries'

Inmate's death prompts warning from prison inspector about dangers 'of self-inflicted injuries'

A report recommended that the Irish Prison Service 'develop a new plain English information resource for prisoners, clearly highlighting the potentially fatal consequences of self-inflicted injuries'

Tue, 26 May, 2026

Nurse had to watch helplessly outside cell as Midlands Prison inmate died

Nurse had to watch helplessly outside cell as Midlands Prison inmate died

Prison officers could not find keys as prisoner suffered reaction to medicine

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Minister 'hoping and expecting' extension of former Cork prison will be completed early

Minister 'hoping and expecting' extension of former Cork prison will be completed early

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said it was a betrayal of the locals who had been promised in 2016 that the old building would not also be used as a prison

Sat, 09 May, 2026

Prison overcrowding: IPS says capacity 'absolutely exhausted' with inmates near 6,000

Prison overcrowding: IPS says capacity 'absolutely exhausted' with inmates near 6,000

Hundreds of inmates sleeping on floors as prison population surges far beyond capacity, fuelling violence and safety concerns

Sat, 02 May, 2026

'Prisoners are brazenly stockpiling contraband': Rising number of criminal gangs operating in prisons

'Prisoners are brazenly stockpiling contraband': Rising number of criminal gangs operating in prisons

Irish Prison Service identified 34 known criminal groups in prisons in 2025

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Prisoners are entitled to humane treatment

Irish Examiner view: Prisoners are entitled to humane treatment

As well as that humanitarian imperative, prison overcrowding curtails education, addiction services, and mental health supports — precisely the interventions known to reduce reoffending

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Cork prison hit hardest as inmate assaults spike 40% amid severe overcrowding

Cork prison hit hardest as inmate assaults spike 40% amid severe overcrowding

Rising assaults, drug use and weapon seizures highlight mounting pressure on staff as inmate numbers approach 6,000

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

'Nightmare' as overcrowded Irish prisons likely to set new record of 6,000 inmates

'Nightmare' as overcrowded Irish prisons likely to set new record of 6,000 inmates

Prison Officers Association say the service is also bracing for a severe security risk with the potential extradition of cartel boss Daniel Kinahan

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

DEIRDRE MCLAUGHLIN

S Mick Clifford: Judges must be allowed to set the minimum terms for murder sentences

Victims’ families question parole rules, compassionate leave, and sentencing powers as debate over justice system intensifies in Ireland

Sun, 26 Apr, 2026

DEIRDRE MCLAUGHLIN

‘I don’t believe someone who has done something like that should ever be released’

Deirdre McLaughlin’s sister Siobhán was murdered by her husband Brian Kearney in 2006 and he is serving a life sentence but Deirdre believes he should not get released from prison

Mon, 20 Apr, 2026

More than 150 prison officers take up posts after graduation ceremony at Croke Park

More than 150 prison officers take up posts after graduation ceremony at Croke Park

Last year, 304 prison officers were recruited following a national campaign

Fri, 03 Apr, 2026

Minister admits inmates on waiting lists leave prison before attending psychology services

Minister admits inmates on waiting lists leave prison before attending psychology services

The justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said this was due to long waiting lists and overcrowding

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026