War of words over Mountjoy intensifies

THE public row over the Prison Service and conditions at Mountjoy Prison escalated yesterday when the chairman of the Mountjoy Visiting Committee disputed claims from an outspoken former committee member.

Chairman Stephen Langton attacked “alarmist comments” from former committee member Paul Mackay and said conditions in the 160-year-old institution were actually improving.

Both men, along with Irish Prison Service (IPS) boss Brian Purcell, addressed the Oireachtas Justice Committee yesterday.