'€5m spent on revamp of prison set to close'

OVER €5 million has been spent on plans to develop a prison that is due to close, according to the Prison Inspector.

Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen said this money should not be wasted and called for Cork Prison to be kept open as a remand centre for those awaiting trial.

In an inspection report, published by the Department of Justice last night, he listed a range of serious problems besetting Cork Prison, including:

* Serious overcrowding, with some cells sleeping six prisoners.

* Unacceptable toilet facilities with prisoners forced to "slop out" their cells.

* High levels of sick leave with four staff on continuous sick leave for more than six months.

The Inspector of Prisons said Cork Prison was the most overcrowded in the system, with 281 prisoners occupying a space designed for 150 inmates.

"The cells in A&B sections are smaller than the average size cells and despite this fact, each one is doubled while others have four to six in them.

"The facilities for some services are very poor and the practice of 'slopping out' continues in all cells except the D wing. This is unacceptable."

He continued: "Planning seems to be ad hoc as apparently approximately €5.5m has been spent on drawing up plans for a new prison building and extending the large boundary wall to accommodate a juvenile centre which now appears not to be going ahead."

He said the prison governor told him that this figure included "consultancy fees".

Mr Justice Kinlen said Justice Minister Michael McDowell planned to replace the prison with a jail for 800 people on Spike Island in Cork.

"However, the money spent on Cork may not be totally wasted as consideration could be given to retaining Cork as a remand/trial prison plus a female prison."

He said the exercise yard was the "most depressing" in the entire prison system, with no benches.

"The toilets are a disgrace but were cleaned prior to our visit. The drinking fountain is filthy and no facilities to wash after a game of soccer."

In a second inspection report, Mr Kinlen gave the training unit, located in Dublin's Mountjoy complex, an upbeat report.

He said it was neat, clean and tidy and a good example of what rehabilitation was all about. However, the probation service complained about being understaffed.

Mr Justice Kinlen recommended life sentence prisoners be given a clearer sentence management programme. Long sentence inmates should be given an answer within a reasonable period of time.