Cork prison death: No level of prison violence is acceptable, says Fitzgerald

The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said no level of violence is acceptable in our prisons, following the death of an inmate in Cork at the weekend.

Forty-one-year-old Graham Johnson was stabbed to death in Cork prison on Saturday during a row in the prison kitchen.

The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice said a risk assessment could have prevented Mr Johnson’s death.

However, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said a risk assessment would have been carried out. A full investigation is underway.

"There is an on-going process in relation to risk assessment…to decide where (prisoners) can work in the prison," she said.

"This incident will be fully investigated. There will be an independent examination by Judge Reilly, who looks at all deaths in custody now. We'll have a coroner's report and a garda investigation, so we'll be able to see the precise circumstances in relation to that crime."