Prisoners double up to solve overcrowding

PRISON bosses were criticised yesterday after it emerged that 40 inmates in a Dublin jail are to be doubled-up in other cells to make way for a new extension aimed at easing overcrowding.

“We will now have 40 less spaces and these prisoners will be doubled-up in cells throughout Wheatfield, resulting in overcrowding,” said Eugene Dennehy, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA).

In a report earlier this year, the Inspector of Prisons said there was evidence of serious bullying and racism within Wheatfield.

One source within the jail said officers were outraged by the development.

“The problem is that whatever genius designed this new extension decided that the only way to access this new building from the old prison is through an existing unit which houses 40 prisoners,” he said.

Mr Dennehy said POA executives had met the local branch about the matter and were now raising it with the Prison Service.

“We believe alternative access could have been found. In Limerick they built a new wing and they built a separate access that didn’t disrupt any prisoners,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Prison Service said the displacement was a “temporary measure”, which had the aim of improving facilities at the prison.