Sleeping on floor in Cork Prison unacceptable, says Tánaiste

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said it is not acceptable that prisoners in Cork Prison are being forced to sleep on the floor because of overcrowding.

Mr Martin was speaking to reporters in Blackpool while canvassing and was asked by The Echo about conditions in the prison, as reported by this newspaper.

At the start of last week, Cork Prison had a record high of 361 people in custody, representing 122% capacity, with 65 people sleeping on the floor.

Mr Martin was asked if he believed the situation was acceptable.

“No it’s not, I believe there is a need for expansion of facilities and accommodation and capacity,” he said.

He added that he did not currently have access to detailed plans for the former Cork Prison building, the 210-year-old building which is located across the road from the modern prison and closed in 2016.

In September, Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed that the Irish Prison Service is currently considering the potential for the former prison to be used for prisoner accommodation, with a review due to be published by the end of that month.

At the time, Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, said the people of The Glen already had a prison “right in the heart of their community”.

“Reopening the old site will leave people’s homes sandwiched between two prisons. That is completely unacceptable,” he said.