McDowell set to make decision on plans for jail

THE Justice Minister confirmed yesterday that he is pressing ahead with plans to build a super-prison for Munster on Spike Island.

Michael McDowell said his department is currently finalising plans for a bridge to link Ringaskiddy to the planned prison on the Cork Harbour island.

And while he said he would consider other possible locations, he said he expects to make a decision soon on whether to give the Spike Island prison project the green light.

There has been widespread opposition from residents in Cobh to the development of a super-prison on Spike since the Fort Mitchel prison closed in 2004.

A conference last month organised by East Cork Tourism, Cobh Tourism and the Cobh Junior International Chamber, heard calls for the island’s tourism potential to be recognised.

Conference organiser, Michael Martin, whose request to the prison service to allow conference speakers tour Spike beforehand was turned down, called again on Mr McDowell to consider other sites.

He said Spike Island should be developed as a tourist attraction. It could become Ireland’s Alcatraz, he said.

“We hope he will look at other places. Of all the options he has or may have, Spike is the one that should be considered last,” he said.

But Mr McDowell defended his decision yesterday to press ahead with the super-prison plans.

Cork Prison needs to be replaced and the region needs a “substantial new prison”, he said.

Conditions in Cork Prison are cramped and overcrowded and the lack of sanitation facilities is a major problem, he said.

“It is managed well but is not a happy structure in which you would hope to rehabilitate prisoners.”

The constant ferrying of prison staff to Spike Island was not the best way to use taxpayers’ money, he said.

“The buck stops at my desk. I have to make a decision. Spike Island has served as a place of incarceration for over 150 years.

“I’m not being dictatorial about this. I don’t know what area would put their hands up and say we’ll have a jail here please.

“It can’t just be a poll among residents about where a prison is put.

“If someone can come up with an alternative site, please contact me, I’m all ears.”

Mr McDowell, who was speaking on Cork’s 96fm, also ruled out locating the super-prison on the former Irish Steel plant on Haulbowline.

It has been earmarked by the Government for a multi-million tourism, residential and commercial development.

Those plans includes the development of 200 apartments, a marina with more than 200 berths and a clubhouse, a 300-bed hotel and a maritime museum.

The Public Accounts Committee heard last year that taxpayers are footing a €30,000 a month bill to maintain the empty Spike Island prison.

Dan Boyle TD calculated at the time that if the super-prison plans are realised, then it is likely that more than €3 million will have been spent on maintaining an empty prison.

The committee also heard that up to €8 million was ploughed into capital investment projects at Fort Mitchel in the two years before its closure.