Prison overcrowding will 'inevitably' cause increased violence, officers warn

The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said it has repeatedly alerted the authorities, including Justice Minister Helen McEntee, that it 'cannot see how' it is going to get through the coming months without increased violence. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins

The overcrowding crisis in prisons is “inevitably” going to result in conflict during the warm summer months, with inmates literally “on top of each other”, prison officers have warned.

The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said it has repeatedly alerted the authorities, including Justice Minister Helen McEntee, that it “cannot see how” it is going to get through the coming months without increased violence.