Residents near Cork Prison to oppose extension due to 'considerable daily stress and anxiety'

Stop Prison Expansion in Cork campaign, made up of about 60 local residents, say  they 'have had to endure excessive noise, drone incidents, public disorder and their gardens being used by persons trying to get drugs in over the prison walls'

Campaign group opposing prison extension to hold public meeting in the Glen Resource and Sports Centre on Thursday, June 11, at 7.30pm.

People living next to Cork Prison say they are already having to deal with their gardens being used by people trying to smuggle drugs, as the first stage of plans for a new facility on the site have progressed.

The Irish Prison Service (IPS), on behalf of the minister for justice, has given notice of its intention to carry out demolition works at the old prison site in The Glen.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan last year announced plans for “a large extension” to the existing prison there, providing spaces for about 100 women and 230 men.

Cork Prison, which has a capacity of 304, had 404 people in custody on Tuesday.

The average number in custody there has risen from 255 in 2021 to 367 last year, according to recent figures.

Calculations by the Irish Examiner show the average figure in custody this year so far is 411, up 61% from 2021.

Mr O’Callaghan said last month work on the proposed new facility was to start early next year, and it could be finished “in the latter part of this decade”.

A new group, Stop Prison Expansion in Cork campaign, made up of about 60 local residents, have said the word “extension” is “utterly misleading”, as the plans are for two new buildings, for men and women.

They will both be separate to the current building, which “causes considerable daily stress and anxiety for those families who live adjacent to it”, they said.

Residents “have had to endure excessive noise coming from the prison at antisocial times, drone incidents, public disorder and their gardens have been used by persons trying to get drugs in over the prison walls”. 

The group’s Benita Wolf said: “More prisons do not address the overcrowding crisis,” adding Limerick women’s prison was presented as the solution to overcrowding, but it opened in October 2023 and was already operating at 121% capacity by January 2024.

The campaign group and Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould are holding a public meeting in the Glen Resource and Sports Centre on Thursday, June 11, at 7.30pm.

Mr Gould said: “Time is of the essence now to oppose this terrible proposal. While other communities get light-rail or new healthcare facilities, we are being stuck with new prisons.”

The site notice states the development will consist of the demolition of the 14 buildings and structures currently onsite, the infill of basement infrastructure, and removal of parking and yards.

Drawings and particulars are available for inspection by appointment only until July 3, at the IPS headquarters in Longford or Mayfield Garda Station.

An IPS spokesperson said: “The new prison facility… will be a large extension of the function of the existing prison and will not be a second prison.

“There are currently no plans on public view at any location. As the project progresses, there will be more stakeholder engagement as part of the planning process.” 

In response to a follow-up question about the notice posted, they said these plans are for demolition works only, and their earlier comment meant there were no plans available to be viewed for future building works.

Mr Gould said: “They are going to progress this in phases and hope the community don’t notice. We are not fools and we will object to this at every stage.”