At least 15 prisoners took their own lives over past decade 

There were 20 deaths in prisons last year, compared with just eight in both 2020 and 2021.

At least 15 prisoners have taken their own lives in the past decade, while four inmates died in Irish prisons in the first month of this year, according to statistics provided by the Department of Justice.

The most recent death in custody statistics have been provided by the Minister for Justice Simon Harris in response to a parliamentary question and cover from January 1, 2012, to January 30 this year.