Old Cork Prison to be demolished with historical parts preserved in extension of current facility

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan noted that the cell occupied by Thomas Kent has been identified and he 'directed that it be retained and preserved as part of the redevelopment'

The Irish Prison Service said plans will be modified to not demolish the gatehouse, stone bastion features and sections of the Old Prison walls, instead incorporating them into the design for the 'future large prison extension' instead. File picture: Larry Cummins

The old Cork Prison is to be demolished, justice minister Jim O'Callaghan has confirmed, despite being voted a protected structure by Cork City Council.

Councillors voted unanimously at the end of September to put the site on its protected structures register, but the process takes six months.

On Tuesday, Mr O'Callaghan confirmed he had approved plans for conservation and demolition works. He said plans submitted by the Irish Prison Service "will see the project proceed in such a way that retains the buildings and structures of the old prison site identified as being of historical and architectural significance".

An Irish Prison Service (IPS) letter said that concerns raised by the city council, elected representatives, heritage organisations, community groups and the public “primarily related to the historical and architectural significance”, so the plans will be modified to not demolish the gatehouse, stone bastion features and sections of the Old Prison Walls, instead incorporating them into the design for the “future large prison extension” instead.

Mr O’Callaghan noted that the cell occupied by Thomas Kent has been identified and he “directed that it be retained and preserved as part of the redevelopment”, while the two martyred Lord Mayors of Cork, Terence MacSwiney and Tomás Mac Curtain, will be “appropriately acknowledged within the design of the extension project”.

The IPS letter said that a new prison at the site was “vital” as the prison service is dealing with “the most severe overcrowding crisis ever experienced by the Irish Justice System”.

It noted there is currently insufficient capacity for both male and female prisoners in Munster, so the proposed 230 male and 100 female spaces in the new Cork facility will mean “less of a burden” to people visiting relatives in prison.

The Irish Prison Service owns the site and there will be “efficiencies and synergies achievable by extending the current prison rather than commencing prison development on a greenfield site”, the IPS said, adding that the project will bring new jobs.

There will be further public consultation, as the planning permission granted covers only the demolition of the old building, which has been split from plans for the construction of a new building, a decision criticised by council management.

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Green party councillor Oliver Moran said he welcomed the preserving of the historic fabric, but said: “For the residents of the Glen, an expanded prison isn't a welcome neighbour.

“There will need to be deeper community engagement on the project. The campaign undertaken by residents also raised questions that deserve answers about why we continue to rely on prisons and why our prison population continues to grow.” 

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said it was a “shameful day” for the IPS and government, calling the remembrance plans “tokenistic” and questioning how the building can be commemorated while being used as a prison.

“If this government were really so concerned about prison overcrowding, they would not have wasted tens of millions in public money on installing infrastructure in Thornton Hall and failing to develop a prison there.

“This fight is not over, this building will be saved and we will fight for its place in Cork’s memory.”