Cork prison hit hardest as inmate assaults spike 40% amid severe overcrowding

Photos taken after a violent incident in Cork Prison. 

Levels of violence in prisons are surging, with demands from prison officers for sprays, batons, and body-worn cameras to protect themselves and maintain order in packed jails.

Assaults by inmates on prison officers and violence between prisoners are both up about 40%, with Cork Prison experiencing the highest levels of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in 2025.