Shatter says Thornton Hall money 'scandalous'

THE AMOUNT of money already spent on the planned new prison in north Co Dublin has been “enormous, extraordinary” and “scandalous”, according to the Minister for Justice.

Alan Shatter said a review of the decision to build a new prison at Thornton Hall would begin next week.

A 140-acre greenfield site at Kilsallaghan, was bought for the proposed 2,200-bed prison by the former government at the height of the property boom for almost €30 million.

Other fees for professional, consultancy and site works have since brought the bill for the prison up to almost €45 million so far.

The figure does not include a further €26 million paid by the State for a site close to Mountjoy Prison in 2006 when plans for a new “village” development were proposed.

Thornton Hall was to be built under a public-private partnership scheme and was initially due for construction in April 2007.

But by mid-2010, then minister for justice Dermot Ahern had conceded the plan could only go ahead on a phased basis and Mountjoy would remain open.

Mr Shatter said yesterday that money already spent on the project would have to be taken into account as part of the review.

“There has been an enormous, extraordinary and, in my view, a scandalous amount of money spent on Thornton Hall, in particular the money spent on the acquisition of the site.”

He acknowledged the money had already been spent.

“We must ensure that if we continue with the project that it not only makes economic sense, but it makes sense in the context of the development of the prison service,” he said.

“Next week, I will announce the individuals who will be engaged in that review and the outcome will be published.”

He hoped the review would be completed by July “at the very latest”.

Mr Shatter also raised concerns about recidivism in the prison system. “A substantial number of people who have served often initially a short sentence of imprisonment are back in prison within five years again,” he said.

He said he would be announcing measures to tackle the issue at a later date.

The Minister also said he had “a very major concern” that prisons were under “substantial pressure”.

“There have been too many prisoners, by my predecessors in government, granted temporary release because of the pressures within our prison system and that has to be addressed as quickly as is possible.”

Asked about criticism by human rights groups of Mountjoy Prison, Mr Shatter said: “We must of course comply with our human rights commitments.”

He said he was “very impressed” with the work of new governor Edward Whelan.

“There has been some significant changes and improvements in Mountjoy over the past nine months and I think they are making a very real difference with that prison,” he said.

“Mountjoy Prison is a changed place from what it was some time ago.”

Improvements included in-cell sanitation in one section of the prison, with the possibility of extending it to other areas.