Resistance to ministers plan for prisons grows

Plans to close two major Irish prisons are being fiercely resisted.

The Prison Officers Association and the Irish Penal Reform Trust have labelled the plan as absurd.

The Minster for Justice, Michael McDowell, wants to close Spike Island, in Cork, and the Curragh, in Co Kildare.

On top of this the running of Loughan House, in Cavan, and Shelton Abbey, in Wicklow, is to be taken out of the hands of the prison service.

The move is aimed at cutting the overtime bill for prison officers which will amount to €64m this year.

Executive Director of the Penal Reform Trust, Rick Lines, is accusing the Minister for Justice of making decisions solely to defeat the overtime issue rather than acting responsibly.