Notorious former reformatory used to store Portlaoise Garda Station building materials

A notorious former reformatory is being used to house construction materials for the new Laois Offaly Garda Divisional Headquarters in Portlaoise.  

Daingean Reformatory in Co Offaly was used to detain boys until 1973. Run by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the reformatory had a reputation for violence and abuse. Musician Don Baker and career criminal Martin ‘The General’ Cahill were among those who were sent there. 

In a recent Parliamentary Question, Offaly Fine Gael TD John Clendennen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the Office of Public Works’ engagement in relation to the reformatory. He also asked about the current status of any assessments, conservation works or development proposals at the site; the plans in place or under consideration for its future development. 

In response, Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said  “The OPW owned properties at Daingean Reformatory, Co Offaly are occupied by the National Museum of Ireland, and are used to store artifacts as part of the national collection since 1979.”

“The site has recently been used to temporarily store building materials associated with the delivery of a new Garda Headquarters in Portlaoise,” he revealed. 

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He said the “OPW have carried out minor maintenance works to the carpentry wing, the roof of the laundry building and the North East wing over the past two years. Beyond the routine and incremental maintenance, there are currently no further conservation works or development proposals planned.”