Prison officers claim new unit staffing inadequate

PRISON officers are to hold crucial talks with management this morning over plans to open a new wing in Castlerea Prison in the coming days.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern announced on Tuesday that the unit would open “this week”.

He said the new block would house 100 inmates and was the first tranche of 400 new spaces being created this year to help address a worsening overcrowding problem in the country’s jails.