McDowell attacks prison needle plan as ‘recipe for disaster’

A PROPOSAL by Drugs Minister Noel Ahern that prisoners be allowed to use needles in jail is a “recipe for disaster”, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said yesterday.

Mr McDowell said there was no suggestion of him “rapping anyone over the knuckles” but said drugs strategies for outside prison - where addicts have access to needle exchanges and sterilisation equipment - are not applicable inside.

“I have responsibility for running the prisons and for implementing the Programme for Government which is predicated on a wholly different approach to drugs in prisons,” said Mr McDowell.