16 inmates died in past two years

ONE prisoner has died while in custody in an Irish jail every six weeks since the start of 2007, the Department of Justice has confirmed.

Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner show in the past two years, 16 inmates died behind bars, with 10 losing their lives in 2008 — the second highest figure in the last decade.

Since 1999, 66 people have lost their lives while in custody in Irish jails through suicide, drug overdoses, natural causes, and assault.