Closure of Mountjoy Prison chapel a suppression of prisoners' religious rights, says bishop

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service told the Irish Examiner that the work is due to commence on December 3, but sources in Mountjoy Prison confirmed it is already closed for the construction works.  File photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

The Catholic bishop who oversees chaplaincy in the State’s prisons has heavily criticised the closing of the chapel in Mountjoy Prison, as reported on Tuesday on the  Irish Examiner. 

Bishop Martin Hayes also claims he was very much misled by prison authorities over what he was told was to be the repurposing of part of the building that houses the chapel. The bishop says the move has meant prisoners' rights in terms of expression of their religion “have been suppressed by authorities”.