Irish Examiner view: Little hope of rehabilitation

Prison overcrowding

The overcrowding issue in Irish prisons has the potential to initiate a vicious circle. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Readers of yesterday’s paper will have noted Vivian Geiran’s analysis of the Irish prison system, and the damning statistics released by the Irish Prison Service.

There are 4,609 people in custody in Irish prisons compared to 4,001 on the same date last year, an increase of 608, or 15%, in the prison population in just one year. It means that overcrowding across Irish prisons are now at a level of 105% capacity.