Mixed reaction to possible use of old Cork Prison to address overcrowding issue

There has been mixed reaction to the idea of reopening the old Cork Prison to address overcrowding.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan told The Echo last week that he believes the former Cork Prison should be used for prisoner accommodation “in the future”.

Fianna Fáil councillor for the city’s South East ward, Terry Shannon, told The Echo that he had heard that one unit in the former prison, the C wing, was in relatively good condition, saying: “The C wing is available.

“The rest of the prison isn’t fit for purpose yet, but the C wing could be opened practically immediately.

“I’ve encouraged the minister to do this, and I think it would be welcomed by people generally.”

The C wing could have the capacity for nearly 100 prisoners.

A report by the Inspector of Prisons in 2010 identified that the C division had 48 cells measuring 9.2sq m each, with no in-cell sanitation.

Before the prison closed in 2016, the cells were each used for two prisoners, though the 2010 report notes that “none of the cells are of sufficient size to accommodate two prisoners”.

However, it makes an argument that the 48 cells in the C division could be used for two prisoners, on the condition that only prisoners who are allowed out of their cells for the maximum period should be placed in them, and that the cells were unlocked on demand when prisoners wish to avail of toilet facilities.

Labour councillor for the North East ward, John Maher, whose family home is next to the prison, said he has been calling for the former prison site to be used to develop housing or a community facility for nearly a decade.

“It’s bananas that they’re looking at reopening it as another prison, and it’s bananas that they’ve left it idle for nine years,” he said.

“This isn’t nimbyism — we’ve had a prison here all our lives — but the residents are the last to know what’s happening...

“It was closed down because it wasn’t fit for purpose.

“The idea that we’d turn it around just like that is mad — the community are not going to take it lightly.”