Irish prisons dangerously overcrowded, report finds

A new international report has found that the majority of Irish prisons are dangerously overcrowded.

The report, carried out by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), found that Mountjoy prison in particular remains unsafe for inmates and prison staff alike, with attacks becoming a daily occurrence.

The prison population in Ireland rose by 33% during the past four years, from just more than 3,000 prisoners in 2006, to over 4,000 prisoners last year.

"We do certainly encourage the Irish authorities to look into their criminal law policy and to identify areas where persons need not to be sent to prison," said the CPT's Mario Felice.

"Prison should be the measure of last resort."