Former inspector claimed people were scared to report mistreatment in prison

Patricia Gilheaney (pictured) told Ms McEntee that her experience as inspector had been that “challenges and barriers arising from cultural issues within the prison had inhibited the work of her office in her experience". File picture: Jason Clarke

People within the prison system are afraid to come forward with concerns, the former inspector of prisons reported just before she left office. 

The former inspector, Patricia Gilheaney, told the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee that co-operation was not always forthcoming from those working in the prison system.