Prison Service fighting 'losing battle' against overcrowding

On Monday, the prison population had reached 5,782, more than 1,000 above the official bed capacity of 4,702, with 614 inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor of shared cells.

The Irish Prison Service is fighting a “losing battle” against overcrowding, with the current system at “breaking point”, penal reformers have said.

Overcrowding in prisons has reached “unprecedented levels”, resulting in deteriorating conditions for both inmates and prison staff, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has warned.