Update on future of former Cork prison site still not forthcoming

Almost five months after the Irish Prison Service (IPS) told The Echo that a decision on the future of the old Cork Prison building was as due “in the coming weeks”, an update on the situation has still not been forthcoming.

This is as the current Cork Prison building was operating at 120% capacity, with 356 in custody, as of Friday — meaning 60 people were sleeping on the floor.

The prison, which has a capacity of 296, has seen continuous overcrowding recently, reaching a high of 372 in custody last month.

The former prison ceased to operate in February 2016, following the opening of the new facility on the same road.

Pressure

With continued pressure on prisoner numbers nationally, the site has been identified as a possible location for additional prisoner accommodation, which local residents, politicians and the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) have objected to.

Speaking to The Echo Saoirse Brady, Irish Prison Reform Trust (IPRT) executive director, said that focusing on alternatives to custody would be more beneficial.

“Evidence shows that increasing the size of and numbers in our prisons does not — and will not — reduce levels of crime. It merely serves to widen the criminal justice net,” said Ms Brady.

“Continuing to focus on expanding existing large-scale institutions or creating new ones, serves no one’s interests and puts more pressure on already overstretched services and communities."

The old Cork Prison closed as it was deemed to be not fit for purpose and didn’t have in-cell sanitation. The IPS previously told The Echo it is “in poor physical state and unsuitable for use in its current form”, meaning a significant amount of work would be required.

Feasibility study

A feasibility study on the condition of the buildings, with regard to its potential for use as prisoner accommodation in the short to medium term, was commissioned in 2024.

A Freedom of Information request by The Echo into the findings of the report was denied last October.

At the time a spokesperson for the Information Access Office at the IPS said: “The department is in the process of considering options with regard to old Cork Prison and have not yet made a final determination in the matter. The document in question is expected to be agreed in the coming weeks.”

Some 21 weeks later, an IPS spokesperson told The Echo: “There is no further update available at this time.”