Irish prisons hold 166 prisoners from 14 different crime gangs, says Justice Minister

Minister McEntee said: "Rivalries and feuds which develop on the outside continue inside the prison."

Minister McEntee published the figures on prison gangs memberships which can be complex given rivalries and fluctuations in support. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

There are currently 166 prisoners from 14 different crime gangs jailed across Irish prisons.

That is according to new figures provided by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD who revealed that there are 71 prisoners associated with known criminal gangs currently serving a sentence - 43% of the total numbers jailed - who are due for release in the next three years.