'Unconscionable' sleeping conditions in overcrowded prisons 'blighting lives'

There are 486 inmates sleeping on mattresses on cell floors in country's prisons

An unannounced inspection was carried out at Wheatfield Prison in Dublin. Picture: PA

The prisons’ inspector has said that overcrowding is “blighting the daily lives” of people working and incarcerated in the country’s jails, after carrying out a large-scale unannounced inspection of Wheatfield Prison in Dublin.

Mark Kelly said his office has now carried out unannounced visits at 10 of the 13 prisons, with overcrowding a consistent issue.