Nearly 400 sex offenders in prisons

The number of sex offenders currently in Irish jails makes up one of the largest groups in the prison system.

That is according to new figures provided by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald who confirms there are 397 sex offenders locked up at this time.

The figures provided by Ms Fitzgerald in a written Dáil reply to Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also show that there are currently 448 killers behind bars for a variety of homicide offences including murder and manslaughter.