IPRT seeks independent inquiry into Mountjoy problems

The Irish Penal Reform Trust is calling for an independent inquiry into the problems besetting Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.

The call follows the deaths of two inmates at the jail during a 12-hour period yesterday.

A 21-year-old prisoner died from a suspected drugs overdose, while a 39-year-old man was also found hanging in his cell.

The deaths come in the wake of the murder of Gary Douch at the prison three weeks ago and a spate of other attacks and stabbings since the start of the month.

Rick Lines from the Irish Penal Reform Trust said today that an independent inquiry was needed to get to the root of the problem.

"This is something that has to be looked at with the utmost urgency," he said.

"Any time we have any death in custody, it's potentially a failure of the State to meet its obligations to protect the lives and well-being of people in prisons.

"When we have three deaths in one prison over the course of a little more than three weeks, it clearly is crying out for some sort of independent investigation."