Prison officers share fears drones will smuggle guns into jails

In some cases, drones are being guided to specific windows of cells and operating off coordinates supplied by smuggled mobile phones inside Portlaoise Prison. File Picture: Collins Photos

Prison officers fear criminals will use drones to smuggle guns into jails, given they are already transporting in “unprecedented” levels of drugs, phones, and knives.

Staff say violence is soaring, with an almost 50% jump in prisoner on prisoner violence in the last year and a 32% increase in prisoner assaults on staff.

At its annual conference in Galway, the Prison Officers' Association said the escalation in the overcrowding crisis, particularly in the last year, is creating a potentially “explosive” situation.

Deputy general secretary Gabriel Keaveny said: “There have been over 100 drone deliveries since the beginning of the year.

We know there’s drugs, we know there’s phones, but we’re very concerned they may also contain firearms. There’s huge concerns for our members

In response to comments from justice minister Jim O’Callaghan that new steel netting — replacing wire netting that can be burned through — is having an impact, Mr Keaveny said: “What they’ve done since the steel netting was installed in Portlaoise [Prison], they delivered directly to the prison through the ventilation system — so it’s impossible net the entire prison.” 

He said in other cases, drones are being guided to specific windows of cells and operating off coordinates supplied by smuggled mobile phones inside.

Mr Keaveny said the average value of consignments in a drone drop is between €50,000-€60,000 inside prisons.

'Extremely concerned'

Speaking at the conference, Mr O’Callaghan said he is “extremely concerned” at the fears regarding firearms, but said there is a need to improve technology to prevent drones from entering prisons.

He said the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána have just signed an agreement to boost prison security.

He also told delegates that he intends to bring a proposal to Cabinet shortly allowing prison officers to use incapacitant sprays for their own safety.

On overcrowding, he said he wants to “accelerate” proposals to increase capacity — including developments and refurbishments on existing Irish Prison Service land such as at the old Cork prison.

“I think there has to be development there, we have the land there,” he said.