Overcrowding at Midlands Prison is an 'indictment of Government neglect’ say furious prison officers
Prison Officers cite the situation at the Portlaoise jail as an example of ‘national scandal’ that makes the job 'impossible'
Overcrowding at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, which has to be managed by local prison officers, reflects on the failure of successive Governments to tackle the problem, according to the Prison Officers Association (POA).
The situation at what is Ireland’s biggest jail was highlighted at the Annual Conference of the POA in Kilkenny by the Association's president, Peter Redmond.
He told colleagues that the latest figures for March show a record 5,909 prisoners in Irish jails, despite the fact that prisons have a capacity for just 4,736. He said more than 500 prisoners are sleeping on mattresses on cell floors due to a lack of space.
Mr Redmond highlighted that while the prison population has doubled over the last five years, just one new prison has been built. He used Portlaoise as an example.
“Successive governments have failed the prisoners and us, as we are supposedly being rehabilitated. The Midlands prison for example, has a bed capacity of 891; there are 1,128 prisoners in custody there today and 160 prisoners sleeping on a cell floor – is this progress? No, it’s neglect and a lack of interest and real commitment,” he said.
He said that it is a “shocking indictment” of the Government.
He said there is a direct impact on the job.
“It’s a truly impossible task that our members are being asked to do on a daily basis. I’ve never seen it so bad. This has an impact across the system, really,” he said.
He said there are consequences with the level of intimidation, violence, and the availability of contraband, including drugs and weapons, which continues to increase as a result of overcrowding.
“Overcrowding allows the bullies and gangs to thrive and ensures that the vulnerable prisoner becomes even more vulnerable,” said the President.
The Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan addressed the conference. He admitted that governments have not done enough.
“We should have kept prison capacity in line with the population increase. We didn’t,” he said, noting that it was his responsibility to secure extra prison spaces and that he was committed to increasing capacity across the State,” he said.
However, he claimed overcrowding would not be solved by extra places. He said laws to increase community-based sanctions could help, adding that “courts need to be more aware of” such options.
“Overcrowding is a complex issue. There’s no quick solution to it. I have put in place a building programme that should have been put in place years ago, but it has been put in place now,” said Minister O’Callaghan.
He said the building programme would create 1,500 spaces by 2030, and 960 of these bed spaces have been expedited.
The Director of the Irish Prison Service, Caron McCaffery, also attended the conference, where she confirmed that said prison officers are to be issued with body cameras and batons for personal protection this year to deal with the increased levels of violence in the prisons.
Ms McCaffery said she favours incapacitant spray use by officers, but this would have to wait until the Oireachtas passes legislation. She told the conference that it was regrettable that over 130 prison officers were assaulted last year, but staff are supported.
She accepted rising jail violence is a byproduct of the high levels of overcrowding, but said more spaces are on the way.