McDowell announces moves to ease Mountjoy overcrowding

The Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has introduced moves to ease overcrowding problems at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.

At present, all men sent to jail in Leinster - with the exception of Longford and Monaghan - are imprisoned at Mountjoy.

However, Mr McDowell has now signed two new directions which will see many of these prisoners incarcerated at alternative facilities.

The changes will allow the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise and Wheatfield Prison in west Dublin to take inmates from outside Dublin, while Mountjoy will continue to take offenders from the capital.

The move is expected to see the number of committals to Mountjoy fall by around 25%.

Overcrowding at the jail came to public attention recently following a spate of attacks on inmates, including one which resulted in the death of 21-year-old Gary Douch.