O’Donoghue likely to serve time alone for own protection

Wayne O’Donoghue has been in custody there since a year ago last week, except during his trial last month.

The 21-year-old was moved to the Midlands Prison after spending just the first night after his initial remand from Midleton District Court, on January 17 last year, at Cork Prison.

While Cork Prison does have a secure unit for protected prisoners, the institution is overcrowded.

The fact that his crime involved the killing of a child is considered by prison authorities to warrant protection from the general prison population.

"Anything that would involve manslaughter or assault on a young person would be something you would have to have regard for in the protection of offenders," a Prison Service spokesperson said last night.

The Midlands Prison has the capacity to accommodate 515 inmates and currently holds about 430, in buildings opened alongside the older Portlaoise Prison in November 2000.

The secure unit also houses about 60 sex offenders, who were moved there in January 2004 when the Curragh Prison was closed by the Irish Prison Service.

However, not all inmates in the secure wing are sex offenders, as others with protection issues such as those who are threatened by other prisoners or gangs are also accommodated.

Like most of the Midlands Prison's inmates, those in custody on the secure wing have single-occupancy cells, with their own toilet and washing facilities.

As part of the authorities' protection policy, they have recreation breaks at different times to other prisoners.

Apart from that, secure wing prisoners have the same facilities as the rest of the inmates. At the Midlands Prison, these include the option to rent televisions for their cells.

Inmates are allowed one half-hour visit each week, although they can apply to the governor for a further special visit of 15 minutes. Visiting hours are in the morning or afternoon, from Monday to Saturday.

The Midlands Prison is about 112 miles from Wayne O'Donoghue's home in Midleton, Co Cork, a journey of about two-and-a-half hours by car.

Prisoners are actively encouraged to engage in work or training, ranging from building skills, metalwork, carpentry, horticulture and computer skills, all of which can lead to recognised qualifications.