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Bullying Concerns At Overcrowded Irish Prisons

Thursday, 27 April 2023 09:46

By Kamron Clarke X @kamron_clarke

Photo credit: Google Maps

The Midlands Prison was overcrowded again yesterday.

The Prison Officers Association says it's seriously concerned about overcrowding in the country's jails.

It's holding it's annual conference in Galway today.

The Midlands Prison was over-capacity again yesterday - nine prisoners were on the floor in the institution.

Portlaoise Prison is also nearly full, and was at 93% capacity yesterday.

President of the Prison Officers Association, and Midlands Prison officer, Tony Power, says overcrowding provides an atmosphere for bullying:

Prison overcrowding is at chronic levels and the POA say a “pack ‘em, stack ‘em and rack ‘em” attitude by Government is putting inmates and prison officers at risk.

The Justice Minister has told prison officers he plans to create space for an additional 620 inmates nationwide.

Four new capital prison projects will be built over the next five years - The Midlands Prison is one of the institutions included in that, as are Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison and Mountjoy Prison.

Speaking in Galway, Minister Simon Harris outlined the plans:

However the President of the POA says they need action and not words.

And a five year plan doesn’t go far enough.

President Tony Power, says they need immediate solutions:

164 prisoners were sleeping on mattresses across the country as of yesterday.

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