Failure to improve prison conditions

The report by Judge Michael Reilly, Inspector of Prisons (Jan 18), into the conditions within Limerick Prison came as no surprise to those familiar with the prison justice system in Ireland.

Limerick prison, like so many other penal institutions in this country, represents an environment so shamefully degrading that one would think this were the 19th century and not a so-called civilised society.

It is a fact that both adults and young offenders are having to endure inhumane, disturbing and totally inappropriate Dickensian conditions while in State care.