Site chosen for prison to replace Mountjoy

A new prison is to be built on a 150-acre site in North Dublin to replace the ageing Mountjoy prison, it emerged today.

The site, which is located at Thorntown, off the N2 roadway to Meath, was purchased at a cost of €29.9m.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the new prison would eliminate the current practice in Mountjoy prison of slopping out – where prisoners had to empty their toilet bowls every morning.

“The purchase of the site is a major step forward in modernising prison conditions and improving facilities for prisoners and staff,” he said.

Mountjoy prison will shut when the new prison is complete in 2008.

Mr McDowell said he was satisfied the new complex would lead to a more cost-effective prison system.