Sharp increase in prisoners using toilet in front of other cellmates

Cork Prison has experienced a significant increase in toilet sharing — rising from 273 prisoners affected in October 2023 to 368 inmates last October — equating to 96% of all prisoners. Picture: Dan Linehan

Two out of three prisoners are going to the toilet in front of other cellmates — compared to half of prisoners just two years ago.

The grim conditions are driven by chronic overcrowding, with a 150% jump in cells with three prisoners, and a 40% rise in cells housing four inmates or more.

The problem is worst at two women’s prisons — Dóchas and Limerick Female — along with Cork Prison and Mountjoy Prison.

Toilets are typically partially partitioned, with bunk beds and/or mattresses on the floor. Prisoners also eat in their cells.

Figures provided by the Irish Prison Service show there was a total of 5,556 inmates in custody in October 2025, compared to 4,618 in October 2023 — an increase of 20%.

Of these:

• 377 prisoners were in cells holding four or more inmates last October, compared to 274 prisoners two years previously — a 38% increase;
• 915 inmates were in cells with three prisoners, compared to 366 in October 2023;
• 2,484 prisoners were in two-person cells, compared to 1,974 — up 26%. 

Just three closed prisons have cells holding four prisoners or more — Cloverhill Remand Prison, Midlands Prison and Dóchas.

Of its 533 prisoners last October, Cloverhill Prison had 272 inmates (51%) in four-person+ cells and 171 (32%) in three-person cells.

The Midlands Prison had 40 prisoners, and Dóchas had 16 inmates, in four-person cells.

Figures show a particularly sharp rise in the last year in the number of cells holding three prisoners. The biggest increases were in the Midlands — jumping from 54 prisoners in October 2024 to 234 inmates last October.

There were 198 prisoners in three-person cells in Cork Prison last October, more than double that (90) in October 2024.

There were 93 prisoners in three-person cells in Dóchas last October, also more than double that (42) a year previously.

In relation to prisoners going to the toilet in the presence of others, there has been a dramatic increase — from a total of 2,369 inmates in October 2023 to 3,653 last October (up 35%).

This means two-thirds of prisoners have to use the toilet with other prisoners in the cell, compared to half of prisoners just two years ago.

The increases are substantial across the system. 

In the women's jails, Limerick Female only had two prisoners forced to experience this indignity in October 2023. It rose to 66 last October — or three in four of all inmates in Limerick Female.

In Dóchas, the numbers affected has risen six-fold — from 29 to 187 — or nine out of 10 inmates at the prison. 

Mountjoy, where cells are small, Victorian-era cells, has seen a four-fold rise in prisoners sharing toilets in cells — from 108 to 426 — or more than 40% of inmates.

Cork Prison has also experienced a significant increase in toilet sharing — rising from 273 prisoners affected in October 2023 to 368 inmates last October — equating to 96% of all prisoners.

The numbers in Cloverhill Remand Prison rose from 432 to 509 respectively — meaning more than 90% of inmates share the toilet.