Costello slams McDowell’s prison closure plans

The Labour Party has sharply criticised Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s plans to close two prisons and remove two others from the control of the Prison Service.

The minister announced the plans yesterday, saying they were designed to reduce the cost of overtime worked by prison officers. Talks on the overtime issue between the Prison Service and the Prison Officers Association broke down at the weekend without an agreement. Mr McDowell had threatened to close or privatise some prisons if the talks did not lead to a satisfactory resolution.