'We’re only upsetting ourselves thinking we can stop them': Glen locals wary of new prison plans

Proposal by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan to demolish derelict old Cork Prison to make way for two new prison facilities on the site — one for 230 men and the other for 100 women

When the old prison closed, the local community was promised various community facilities on the site, none of which happened. File picture: Larry Cummins

“God love Errigal Heights if they get a new prison, because they’ll have people outside their doors firing drugs over the fence like I do,” said a neighbour of Cork Prison this week.

There has been considerable controversy around the proposal by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan to demolish the derelict old Cork Prison to make way for two new prison facilities on the site — one for 230 men and the other for 100 women.

Overlooking the Glen on Cork’s northside, the Cork military detention barracks was built by the British Army in 1806. In 1972, the old building became a civilian prison, and was eventually replaced in 2016 by a €45m purpose-built 296-bed prison, built across Rathmore Road from the original.

The prison has capacity for 304 prisoners, but overcrowding means it has routinely operated at an average of 135% capacity in recent times. When the old prison closed, the local community was promised various community facilities on the site, none of which happened.

Last month, Cork City Council voted to place the old prison on its protected structures register. The facility's historical links include that it held both of Cork’s martyred lords mayor, Terence MacSwiney and Tomás Mac Curtain.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, whose father came from the area, has said he cannot guarantee that the Department of Justice will respect the site’s protected status and questioned why it was only being protected now.

Almost nobody in Brandon Court, on the eastern side of the new prison, or in Errigal Heights, which abuts the northern end of the old building, was willing to give their name when asked by the Irish Examiner this week — but most were opposed to the proposed development.

One woman who has lived in Brandon Court for 20 years said that since the new prison opened she has had a “constant” problem with people throwing drugs into the prison from her garden.

“There’s a net over the yard, so some of them dip sliotars in petrol and set fire to them, and they beat them over the wall to try and melt the net, and then they throw the drugs over,” she said.

One lad, the sleeve of his jacket caught fire, and my husband had to run out and quench him. 

Cell windows are visible from the woman's garden, and prisoners can see into her garden and often shout to her. “You can hear them at night, threatening to rape each other’s sisters, mothers, girlfriends; my children shouldn’t have to listen to that,” she said.

“They know my name and my kids’ names. One time one of the prisoners shouted down that I’d want to take my kids in, ‘There’s a hairy on the landing,’ he said. A hairy is prison slang for a paedophile.” 

Rejecting the woman's claims, another Brandon Court resident claimed there hadn’t been an issue with people throwing drugs over the fence “for two years”.

“That’s all been solved,” she said. “The only problem now is the blockers in the prison knock out my wifi.” 

Further up the Glen, Errigal Heights is beside the old prison, and a six-house terrace cul-de-sac leads to its looming gable wall. A tattered net hangs on top, a remnant from a decade ago, when people would run up the hill and bowl drugs into the old yard.

One resident said the new prison was behind her home and recalled the disruption during its construction.

“Are we facing into years of dust everywhere and rats running in every direction? We’ve the new prison behind us, the old prison above us, and a factory across the road. 

We barely have natural light, and the best they can offer us is another two prisons. What does that tell kids about their futures? 

Around the corner, an older woman said she wasn’t “in love” with the idea of a new prison but added: “it depends on what the other plans are.”

When the possibility of an Ipas centre was suggested, she said: “Oh God no, I wouldn’t like that at all, nothing against the refugees.”

With the building of prisons exempt from normal planning rules, several people were resigned to the new prison facilities being built regardless of their opinions.

“They’re going to do what they want either way, and we’re only upsetting ourselves thinking we can stop them,” one woman said.

In recent days, Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan has facilitated a meeting between the justice minister and representatives of The Glen Resource Centre and the Cork Educational Training Board. He said Mr O’Callaghan had also agreed “in principle” to meet with residents.

The old Cork Prison's historical links include that it held both of Cork’s martyred lords mayor, Terence MacSwiney and Tomás Mac Curtain. File picture: Larry Cummins

One resident suggested it was only a matter of time before the new prison would need replacement too.

“Instead of spending a fortune now, and probably more in 10 years’ time, why can’t they buy a new site out in Whitechurch or Carrignavar? And if there’s rats there, sure can’t the rats go into different fields?

“Build out there, knock those monstrosities, and give decent people a view and a bit of hope,” she said. The Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service were asked for comment.