Prisons inspector wants drug free unit retained

The drug free Training Unit in Mountjoy Prison should be kept in Dublin and not moved to a new complex miles from the capital, the Inspector of Prisons said today.

Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen said the centre, which houses inmates nearing the end of their sentence and others trying to kick heroin habits, must be kept in the city.

The judge insisted relocating the institution to a site near Arbour Hill prison would be more effective than shipping it out to the planned €30m jail at Thornton Hall.

“I would strongly recommend that it remains within the city boundary, perhaps relocated to an empty site near Arbour Hill Prison if there is suitable space there to provide the necessary facilities,” the judge stated in his report.

“A third of the population leave on daily temporary release and can get buses, trains, walk to their place of work, courses but if located in north Dublin, no such public transport would be available.”

The Training Unit houses around 100 prisoners in an open type environment, many of whom are allowed out each day to work, train or study.

Mr Justice Kinlen fears that this reintegration process would be harmed if prisoners were moved to the new complex forcing restricted access.

“It is a good example of what rehabilitation is all about,” his report stated.

“A big effort is being put into the rehabilitation of the prisoners which is a very positive aspect of the centre. The efforts made regarding waste management are commendable.”

The report also revealed no prisoner escapes took place from within the unit or while inmates were being escorted or being accompanied in the past year.

The new site for Mountjoy, on a greenfield site in north Dublin, has caused massive controversy among locals and prisoners relatives.

The Rolestown St Margaret’s Action Group have argued that a lack of infrastructure including roads and sewerage systems will plague the development from the off, while prisoners’ families claimed they will not have easy enough access to the centre to visit their loved ones.