Mountjoy overcrowding highlighted

The number of inmates at Mountjoy prison has exceeded bed capacity by up to 107 prisoners, a report published today by the Inspector of Prisons on Mountjoy said.

In his report from August 2009, Judge Michael Reilly noted Mountjoy was an old building and the intention was to replace it with a prison at Thornton Hall. However, he said, despite the efforts of management and staff the prison "cannot, at present, provide safe and secure custody for its prisoners".

He also questioned whether it was a safe environment for staff to work in.

Pointing out the prison has a current bed capacity of 573, despite an original capacity of 489, Judge Reilly said it had "consistently operated far beyond its design bed capacity" since his appointment as inspector. He pointed out that at the time of his report bed capacity was "significantly increased" at the prison.

"When the population of the prison exceeds 573 the overflow numbers are accommodated on mattresses on the floor in cells already occupied, in cells not meant for that purpose, in holding cells in the reception area or in the shower room in the B Base," Judge Reilly said.

"On the nights of 24th February 2009 and 21st May 2009 the stated bed capacity of the prison was 573. On these dates the population of the prison was respectively 660 and 680," Judge Reilly said.

He said that if Mountjoy Prison is to remain part of the State's prison system in the short term, the numbers must be reduced to 540 and not allowed increase beyond this figure.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said the Government has been aware of the limitations at Mountjoy "for some time" and that the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, was "determined to push ahead" with a new prison campus on a greenfield site at Thornton, north county Dublin.

The Department of Justice said that when additional capacity becomes available in Wheatfield Prison, the Minister will move to send prisoners committed by the district courts sitting in Dún Laoghaire, Swords, Tallaght, Cloverhill and Blanchardstown to that institution rather than Mountjoy. The refurbished Separate Unit in Mountjoy is set to open at the end of October 2009, providing 56 more spaces.

The director general of the Irish Prison Service has indicated that with these extra 56 spaces it is his intention, as far as possible, to keep the prison population of Mountjoy under 600.

The Department said that in addition to 100 new prison spaces recently created in Castlerea Prison, further spaces will be opened in Portlaoise and Wheatfield prisons.

"During August, it was possible to reduce the prison population in Mountjoy to less than 590. However, this was achievable in the main because the majority of courts were in recess," it added.

Judge Reilly also found most cells in the main block were dirty and unkept, many needed repainting and some need total refurbishment. In 2008, of the 520 prisoners who enrolled in the prison's school, 20 per cent could not read or write and 30 per cent could only sign their names.

In addition to recommending the prison population be cut to 540 or under, the judge made 15 other recommendations, including the creation of a dedicated committal area for prisoners, an end to the practice of slopping out, and an increase in CCTV coverage.

Welcoming the report, Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan called for Mr Ahern to implement the recommendations immediately.

“The problem of dangerous overcrowding with prisons sleeping in shower-rooms, reception areas and on mattresses in the floors of crowded cells persists. Judge Reilly has described a prison that is neither safe for prisoners nor staff. . . . Incidents of violence involving injuries to staff and prisoners are numerous."

Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) Liam Herrick said the report must act as a ‘watershed’ for the Irish penal system and said the delayed plans for building a new prison to replace Mountjoy can no longer be used as an excuse for not providing safe custody to prisoners.

“We cannot wait any longer for a prison that may or not be built. We need a clear statement from the Minister that he will commit to addressing the urgent issues identified in this report, and that he will give the support and leadership necessary to the Irish Prison Service in this regard,” he added.

The report is available on the department’s website.