Pleas for Govt to help Irish prisoners abroad

Catholic bishops have called on the Government to honour their commitment to helping Irish prisoners abroad.

In his St Patrick's Day message, the Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty has said the Government needs to urgently implement the recommendations of a report it commissioned into the situation.

Bishop Hegarty believes the report, which was published last August, gave a disturbing snapshot of the conditions, problems and issues faced by these prisoners and their families.

He has also said the Government has a responsibility to alleviate the hardship experienced by the most vulnerable group of emigrants.