Irish prisons entering  'unthinkable territory' as overcrowding hits 'crisis' level 

Every cell in Cork Prison is now doubled up — but it still has almost 90 inmates sleeping on mattresses on cell floors, accounting for almost a quarter of all prisoners in the jail. Picture: iStock

Irish prisons are entering “unthinkable territory” and may have to use recreation halls and even classrooms to house inmates.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) and senior prison sources have told the Irish Examiner that there may be “no option” given that all physical spaces have been used up with bunk beds and mattresses on floors.