Seizures of contraband in Cork Prison jump 77%

There were 110 seizures of contraband including weapons, drugs, and phones in Cork Prison last year, up 77% from the previous year.

New figures published by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) show that in 2025 there were 29 mobile phones seized in Cork Prison, almost triple the 10 seized in 2024 and the nine discovered in 2023.

Drug seizures in the prison also increased substantially, with 67 drug seizures last year, up from 40 and 36 in the previous two years.

There were also 14 weapons seized in Cork Prison in 2025, similar to the 12 and 15 figures in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

WEAPONS

Irish Prison Service figures show that from 2015 to 2025, there have been 246 phones and 234 weapons seized, as well as 518 drug seizures in Cork Prison alone.

The figures, published by IPS, show that last year was among the highest for seizures in Cork Prison.

There were 110 seizures of phones, weapons and drugs combined in 2025, compared to 62 in 2024, 60 in 2023, 84 in 2022, 114 in 2021, 75 in 2020, 111 in 2019, 121 in 2018, 74 in 2017, 96 in 2016, and 91 in 2015.

Nationally, seizures of contraband are up also, with a 70% rise in weapons seizures (from 260 to 441); a 28% increase in drug seizures (1,035 to 1,325) and a 33% rise in phone seizures (1,236 to 1,647).

Data on assaults from the IPS showed that Cork Prison had the highest number of prisoner-on-prisoner attacks of any Irish prison last year, with 227 incidents, up 68% from 135 in 2024.

There were also 15 prisoner-on-staff physical assaults in Cork Prison, the second highest after Mountjoy.

There were 418 people in custody in Cork Prison yesterday. The record high of 430 was recorded in March.