Women’s prison ‘inhumane’ says peace activist, 80

An elderly artist and anti- war activist, released early from prison yesterday after serving part of a second jail term over her opposition to the US military’s use of Shannon Airport, has described conditions inside Limerick Prison as "inhumane".

Margaretta D’Arcy, 80, a close friend of President Michael D Higgins’s wife Sabina, said she had to defecate in the same cell where she ate her meals, and was locked up 23 hours a day.

Ms D’Arcy was released by prison authorities five days before her custodial term ended. The Galway pensioner, who is receiving cancer treatment, had not eaten for some days after been taken into custody last Wednesday.