Man jailed for spitting on garda walks free due to Cork Prison overcrowding

Despite being sentenced for assaulting a garda, a man was turned away from Cork Prison due to overcrowding crisis

There were 390 people in custody in Cork Prison, with 86 mattresses on the floor to accommodate the significant overcrowding, and a bed capacity of 296. File Picture: Dan Linehan

A man who spat phlegm in a garda’s face in Cork was jailed for five months, but was turned away from prison — and never spent one minute behind bars — because it was already full.

Judge Colm Roberts had jailed the man for five months in Midleton District Court. However, due to overcrowding in Cork prison, he was turned away.