A prisoner at Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon was found dead in his cell last night.
The man, in his late 20s and originally from Foxrock in Co Dublin, was serving a sentence for minor offences.
He was found dead between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. with a ligature around his neck. Attempts by staff to resuscitate the prisoner were unsuccessful.
A spokesman said the man had a number of previous convictions and was known to prison staff with whom he had built up a "good relationship".
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His name has not been released.