Concern over cell-sharing and increased capacity at Cork Prison

14th June 2013

The Irish Examiner and The Cork News report on plans for the building of a replacement prison in Cork, which will see capacity increased and doubling up in cells.

Although IPRT strongly welcomes moves to address the current unfit and inhumane conditions in Cork Prison, which sees prisoners slopping out in shared cells where they also eat meals - and which demand urgent action - we are concerned at the plans which amount to penal expansion (through increasing the design capacity from 146 to 275/310).

Furthermore, as also identified by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in their detailed statement, planning from the outset for double-occupancy of cells is not in line with standards outlined in the European Prison Rules.

More information below.

Media:

• Irish Examiner: 'Plan for shared cells regrettable, says trust' (13 June 2013)
• The Cork News: 'Concern over new prison capacity' (14 June 2013)

Statements:

• IPRT: Plans to expand capacity and for double occupancy at new Cork Prison regrettable and regressive - IPRT (12 June 2013)
• JCFJ:Jesuit Centre strongly criticises plan for ‘doubling up’ in new Cork Prison (13 June 2013)
• Justice.ie: Speech by Alan Shatter T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence approving the development of a new prison in Cork (12 June 2013)