Michael Clifford: Damning picture of life in State’s largest women’s prison

Further examination is required to find out what exactly is going on behind the prison walls of the Dóchas centre 

The chaplain of the Dóchas Centre (pictured) in Mountjoy, Clare Hargaden, has described a culture of 'fear, indifference, hostility and ineptitude' in what she called a 'toxic environment'. File image

Last Wednesday the chaplain of the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy decided she couldn’t take any more. According to documents seen by the Irish Examiner, the chaplain Clare Hargaden, wrote a long email to the director-general of the Irish Prison Service (IPS), Caron McCaffrey, outlining grave concerns about the welfare of prisoners and staff at the Dóchas Centre.

Ms Hargaden described a culture of “fear, indifference, hostility, and ineptitude” in what she called a “toxic environment”.