Closure of youth prison galling, say officers

THE closure of an open prison for juvenile criminals does nothing for the well-being of young people and their future in society, a conference was told yesterday.

The decision to shelve plans to open a special secure school for under sixteens, which would be separate but attached to St Patrick’s in Dublin, is a great shame, prison officers’ association president Gabriel Keaveny said.

St Patrick’s will now accommodate youths aged between 16 and 17. Many of these would more than likely have ended up at Shanganagh Castle, the open prison in Shankill, Co Dublin, closed by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

“The closure of Shanganagh Castle will leave large numbers of juvenile offenders languishing in closed prisons.

“This regressive policy will put immense pressure on the present system. What is really galling is that financial expediency was put before the interests of vulnerable young people,” said Mr Keaveny.

The Government argued that the prison was not viable and accommodating only young offenders when it closed. But the POA said it was deliberately run down ahead of the final decision to close.