40 prisoners freed because of space crisis at Mountjoy

Prison officials have been forced to release more than 40 prisoners in the last two days from the State's largest prison, because of an overcrowding crisis.

Almost 20 prisoners were given releases from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin yesterday, nearly half of them full releases and the remainder temporary, according to a prison source.

Overcrowding reached its highest level ever on Tuesday night, with 762 prisoners. The maximum capacity is 500. On Wednesday more than 25 prisoners were released, at least 20 of them temporary. There were 729 inmates in the prison last night.

The 37-person separation unit, which reopened last month, has added to the numbers in Mountjoy. There is also a large seasonal surge in numbers.

The high-security unit had been closed for more than a year after four prison officers were taken hostage by prisoners in a siege in January 1997. It is understood that none of the officers involved has returned to duty.

Prison governor John Lonergan said that approximately a fifth, almost 150 prisoners, were on remand. The majority of committal prisoners were on sentences of two years or less.

The Fine Gael justice spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, said the conditions could be avoided if those convicted of non-payment of fines were not jailed. Almost 7,000 people were sent to Mountjoy last year for non-payment of fines, he said.

However the Attachment of Earnings Bill, which would deduct fines from defaulters' incomes at source, was not on the programme for this Dail session.

Labour's justice spokesman, Dr Pat Upton, said he has asked Mr Eoin Ryan, chairman of the Dail Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, ail committee, to arrange a visit to the prison.

Mr Lonergan said he was "not aware of any tension" in the prison. But the situation put pressure on prisoners and staff. The prisoners who suffered most were those who had just arrived to serve their sentences, he said.

The holding cells, with benches where prisoners wait to be assigned a cell, are being used for overnight accommodation with up to 40 prisoners in each cell sleeping on mattresses on the floor. One officer described the prison as "chaotic" since Tuesday night.

Prisoners are also sleeping in rooms designed for interviews.