The Glen 'does not deserve another prison': TDs oppose using old Cork prison site as jail extension

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) also said the old prison building is in a poor physical state and unsuitable for use in its current form

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said he would like to see the old prison site on Rathmore Road (pictured), which has lain vacant since the new facility opened in 2017, being used for an extension of the new prison, which has been struggling with overcrowding in recent years. File picture: Cillian Kelly

Political opposition is mounting in Cork to the justice minister's suggestion that the city’s old jail be used to facilitate an extension of the new prison.

A Sinn Féin TD for the northside described the proposal as “shameful” while a Labour councillor said the community will fight plans for a second prison.

They were reacting to a report on the Irish Examiner last Sunday in which justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said he would like to see the old prison site on Rathmore Road, which has lain vacant since the new facility opened in 2017, being used for an extension of the new prison, which has been struggling with overcrowding in recent years.

He was speaking after visiting the new jail last Friday.

“We have an overcrowding crisis in the prisons. We need more prison spaces. The old Cork prison site is land that we own and I would like to see it used for an extension of Cork prison in the future,” he said.

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has said the old prison building is in a poor physical state and unsuitable for use in its current form.

Engineering consultants carried out a detailed assessment of the facility in 2023 and provided a feasibility report to the IPS with various options for its use, which the IPS said it is still considering.

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SF TD Thomas Gould said he has now written to the minister and the IPS calling for the publication of that report, requesting that they shelve the extension proposal, and consider alternative uses for the site.

He said he has been warning for some time that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were considering using the old prison site for more prison space.

“It was clear when they turned down the Land Development Agency and commissioned a feasibility study that they wanted to force another prison into the heart of The Glen,” he said.

The Glen is a residential area. It is not appropriate to place large prisons in the heart of communities.

“There was a huge campaign to prevent the opening of the last prison and we were given firm commitments, including that the old site would not re-open and that the community would receive a dividend.

“They do not deserve another prison on their front door."

Labour city councillor John Maher said he will also fight any plans for a prison extension on the old jail site.

“We have called for the site to be used for a mix of housing, for a community and arts centre and a heritage and cultural centre, and now the government is ignoring us again. I will work with all in our community to stop this happening,” he said.