Fears over transfer of young offenders

Concerns are being raised as to how the educational and childcare requirements of young offenders being transferred from St Patrick’s Institution to Wheatfield Prison are going to be met.

It comes as Emily Logan, the Children’s Ombudsman, visits Wheatfield Prison today to seek assurances from the head of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that the “deeply ingrained dysfunctional culture” in St Patrick’s is not perpetuated in Wheatfield.

Alan Shatter, the justice minister, on Wednesday announced that the prison for those aged from 17 to 20 was being closed down on foot of demands from the Inspector of Prisons.