Prison overcrowding 'inhumane, undignified, and degrading': Cork Prison at 124% capacity

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has criticised “inhumane, undignified, and degrading” conditions in overcrowded prisons as the number of inmates in Cork Prison rose to its second-highest ever.

Cork Prison had 367 inmates in custody yesterday, 71 more people than the prison is designed to accommodate, meaning that nearly 20% of inmates are still without a bed.

Yesterday’s figure, which represents 124% capacity, is five below the record-breaking amount of people incarcerated on Tuesday, but still above the previous record, which was set in November.

Saoirse Brady, executive director at Irish Penal Reform Trust, told The Echo that they have continually raised concerns about the record overcrowding across the prison estate, saying: “Despite prisons being full, the number of people in prison has continued to increase.

“News of 372 people in Cork Prison — where the capacity is 296 — begs the question as to the conditions in the prison, given that there are 76 more people imprisoned than the prison is designed to hold.

“We’re hearing of people sleeping on mattresses on the floor of cramped cells holding three people that are designed for one person.

“Reports have indicated that, at times, even people with serious mental health issues, who have to be accommodated in the Vulnerable Persons Unit, have had to double up.”

She also raised concern about discussions around bringing the old Cork Prison back into use, saying: “The old Cork Prison closed as it was not fit for purpose and didn’t have any in-cell sanitation. We can’t go back to the old days of slopping out.

“However, having to share unpartitioned toilets with multiple cellmates is also an unacceptable and demeaning situation that no one should have to endure.

“To be very clear, the deprivation of someone’s liberty is the punishment they face, and their basic rights should not be infringed. These are inhumane, undignified, and degrading conditions.”

Ms Brady added that IPRT welcomes the commitment to introduce legislation to extend the use of community sanctions in the recently agreed programme for government, but plans to increase prison capacity “sends mixed messages”.

“The newly elected Government must use this opportunity to take a long-term, strategic approach to addressing the current overcrowding crisis.”

Earlier this week, the Irish Prison Service told The Echo that it must accept into custody all the people committed to prison by the courts, and, as such, “has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time”.