Figures show thousands of contraband items seized in Irish prisons

Some 15,000 illegal items have been seized from detainees in Irish prisons over the past two years.

The Irish Examiner says the contraband included weapons, drugs and mobile phones, with Mountjoy Prison in Dublin the worst offender.

Figures show 3,156 drug seizures in Irish prisons over the past two years, and 2,787 weapons found.

Most of the confiscations occurred in Mountjoy where prison officers seized 4,874 items.

Next was St Patrick's Institution for Young Offenders at 1,625 items.

Some 256 weapons were seized at St Patrick's last year - the highest figure in the country at any detention facility.

Almost 1,900 items were discovered at Limerick Prison, 1,500 at Wheatfield and almost 1,200 at the Midlands Prison.

Cork and Portlaoise Prisons had the least number of items of contraband.