Prison boss defends republican prisoner ‘privileges’

PRISON boss Brian Purcell said the “different regime” enjoyed by dissident republicans in Portlaoise Prison was down to historical and political reasons.

The director general said republican prisoners in the State’s only maximum security prison had the privileges even during the “darkest days” of the Northern conflict.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Prison Officers’ Association, Mr Purcell said republican prisoners had played key roles in the peace process.