Unprecedented prison overcrowding leads to escalating tensions 

Midlands Prison had a record 1,000 in custody last Friday

Tensions in the Midlands Prison are 'at the highest', one source said, with prisoners objecting to other inmates coming into their cells to sleep on floors. Picture: Moya Nolan

Tensions are escalating in prisons due to some unprecedented overcrowding, with 1,000 in custody in the Midlands Prison on Friday for the first time.

Fears are now emerging that Kinahan cartel killer and notorious gangland criminal ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson’s recent incarceration in the prison may spark more problems amid acute overcrowding, sources say.

Some staff are concerned that the prison will “be flooded with drugs” which could ramp up unwanted extra tension among prisoners running up drug debts.

Tensions in the Midlands Prison are now “at the highest,” one source said, with prisoners objecting to other inmates coming into their cells to sleep on floors.

More than 100 prisoners are now sleeping on the floor in the Midlands. 

“Staff are stressed,” a source said.

Only one nurse officer is there to care for the entire prison population at night, so if anything happens on a certain division away from the main jail, someone has to wait for assistance, a source said.

Thompson was transferred to the Midlands Prison from neighbouring Portlaoise in February. 

The 44-year-old is serving a life sentence for his role in the murder of David ‘Daithi’ Douglas in July 2016.

But he also faces trial after being charged more recently with assault and threats to kill a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison.

Overall, total prison capacity nationally was at 114% with 5,259 people in custody in prison, and a total bed capacity of 4631 — an overcapacity of 628. 

On Friday, the Midlands Prison had 1,000 people in custody and a 891 bed capacity. 

But while the Midlands was at 112% capacity on Friday, many other prisons were battling even higher overcapacity rates.

Cork Prison was on 119% capacity with 352 in custody and 296 beds. 

Limerick male prison was at 136% capacity with 388 in custody and 286 beds, while Limerick women’s prison had the highest capacity of all at 136% with 86 in custody and 56 beds.

Mountjoy men’s prison is on 121% capacity with 977 in custody and 807 beds and Mountjoy female prison is on 116% with 169 in custody and 146 capacity.

Portlaoise was at 118% capacity with 266 in custody and 226 beds and Castlerea Prison was at 119% with 443 in custody and a 371 bed capacity.

Overall, total prison capacity nationally was at 114% with 5,259 people in custody in prison, and a total bed capacity of 4631 — an overcapacity of 628. 

Some 592 prisoners were on temporary release from all prisons on Friday.

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) said in a statement that it must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the courts.

“Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, officials in the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release.

“In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 300 additional spaces."

An increase of €79m (18%) was made in Budget 2025 towards a total of €525m in funding to increase prison capacity and support prisoner services, the IPS said.

The IPS capital budget is €53m in 2025, an increase of €22.5m on the original 2024 allocation, focused on bringing additional prison spaces into the system.

A target of 1,500 additional prison places was set out in the programme for government.