European Court ruling means prisoners must be allowed to vote

Irish prisoners will reportedly be voting in future elections following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

Reports this morning said the court ruled yesterday that a British prisoner convicted of killing a woman with an axe had his rights breached when he was banned from voting.

In its judgement, the court said voting was a right, not a privilege.

Although Irish prisoners are not formally banned from voting, there is currently no procedure to allow them to do so.

Yesterday's ruling means Ireland and 14 other EU countries will have to introduce changes to facilitate prisoners who want to vote.