Prison ban on smoking ‘could cause unrest’

AN outright ban on smoking in prisons is unworkable and could cause considerable unrest, the Irish Penal Reform Trust warned yesterday.

The trust’s spokeswoman Dr Valerie Bresnihan said she was surprised the Prison Officers Association (POA) favoured the ban and does not want it watered down.

While Dr Bresnihan accepted the prison officers have a right to work in a smoke-free zone, she said there was a need to take the prisoners’ needs into account.