Diary of an autistic prisoner: 'I only had two showers in four weeks'

An autistic man spent 27 days in overcrowded Cork Prison after residential placement collapsed and bail was refused

'Owen' had been incarcerated for 27 days in Cork Prison. File picture: Larry Cummins

Owen (not his real name) was asleep when the four armed gardai came through his bedroom door.

His bedroom would have more in common with that of a young boy than the 34-year-old man he is. On the walls are posters of tractors and cuddly toys.