Search

29 Mar 2024

Irish prisons seek to release 200 prisoners in response to Covid-19 recommendations

No murderers, sex offenders , gangster or terrorists will be considered

Portlaoise Prison

Irish Prison Service seeks to release 200 non violent prisoners during Covid-19 spread (File photo of Portlaoise Prison)

The Prison Service (IPS) seeks to release more than 200 prisoners in response to the 'social distancing' recommended by the government in response to the spread of Covid-19, reports RTÉ.

Paul Reynolds, crime correspondent for the national broadcaster, stated last night this was a temporary measure to reduce the risk of the virus spreading in Irish jails.

Reynolds wrote "The Prison System is currently overcrowded and the Prison Service says an outbreak of Covid-19 in the prisons would pose significant challenges for staff and vulnerable inmates".

It is understood that prison authorities are in discussions with the Department of Justice "and seeking the approval of the Minister for the special measure".

Caron McCaffrey, Director of the Prison Service says no prisoner who is deemed to pose a threat to public safety will be released.

There is currently more than 4,700 people in Ireland's 13 prisons which only have four thousand three hundred beds.

Limerick and Cork are overcrowded, claimed Reynolds and on  Friday night, at least 63 inmates slept on mattresses.

While there is no case of Covid-19 reported in any of the Irish jails, it is felt that "prisoners are considered a particularly vulnerable group as many have compromised immune systems due to health and addiction issues".

Only prisoners serving less than a 12 month sentence and for non-violent offences will be considered for release. The Prison Service is currently in discussion with the Department of Justice and "seeking the Minister’s approval before implementing this special measure".

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!


Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.


Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.