Closure of Curragh detention centre to begin today

The Prison Service is to press ahead with the closure of the Curragh detention centre today due to a dispute over prison officers’ overtime.

Inmates and staff at the detention centre are to be transferred to other prisons.

Fort Mitchell prison on Spike Island in Cork is also set to close at the end of month.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has ordered the closures in an effort to reduce costs.

He has linked the closures to the failure of the Prison Service and the Prison Officers Association to negotiate a halving of the annual €60m overtime bill.

The POA has accused Mr McDowell of being deliberately provocative while talks on the matter are still ongoing.