Future of St Patrick’s must be secured

ACCORDING to recent media reports, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform’s plans for new prisons include reviewing the future of St Patrick’s Institution.

Over the past decade, many millions have been spent providing in-cell sanitation throughout the institution, upgrading administration and visiting facilities, providing library and additional gym facilities a few areas where taxpayers' money has been spent with excellent results.

St Patrick's has a drug-free wing, containing roughly 70 inmates, which is internationally recognised as being an example of best practice in this regard.