Prison overcrowding raises concern

Overcrowding in Irish prisons is so acute that jails will not be able to cope with increased prisoner numbers if bail laws are tightened, the Prison Officers' Association (POA) has said.

The association's president Gabriel Keaveny warned overcrowding had increased to such an extent that a revolving door prison system was beginning to re-emerge, where inmates are released early to make room for new committals. Minister for Justice Michael McDowell was failing to respond.

"Recently we heard the Minister speak about changing the bail laws. And where might I ask is he going to find prison spaces to meet the knock-on effects of more restrictive bail practices? We learned this week that 5,600 crimes were committed last year, some very serious, by people on bail. The bail issue certainly needs to be addressed but where is extra space needed?"

Mr Keaveny was speaking at the opening of the POA's annual three-day conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, last night.

Mr McDowell, and gardaí, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of crime being committed by offenders while on bail.

The Minister has requested research on the issue on receipt of which any shortcomings will be addressed.

Mr Keaveny criticised Mr McDowell over the closure of three prisons including the Curragh place of detention, Co Kildare, Spike Island, Co Cork, and Shanganagh juvenile open prison, Shankill, Co Dublin. "Undertakings were given that a new prison for the southern area would be opened on Spike Island," Mr Keaveny said.