Academics refused entry to Spike Island

THE Irish Prison Service has blocked top academics from visiting Spike Island ahead of a conference on its tourism potential organised by those fighting the government’s super-prison plans for the island.

Conference organiser Michael Martin said he sought permission for conference speakers, UCC Professor Dermot Keogh and Queens University’s Dr Steven Royle, to visit the former prison site before the event.

Prison service officials turned down the request, and Mr Martin said he was “very disappointed”.