More early release needed to alleviate overcrowded prisons, says Irish Penal Reform Trust

24th July 2025

The interview follows from the publication of a report on the Irish prison system by the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Degrading Treatment (CPT) which strongly criticised the level of overcrowding across the Irish prison system.

Responding to the report, Niamh McCormack, the trust’s legal policy and public affairs manager, said overcrowding was “pervasive” across Irish prisons and “negatively impacting all aspects of prison life and posing safety concerns for both prisoners and staff alike”.

Ms McCormack noted that early or temporary release had been used by prison management to control prisoner numbers. However, she said to make way for newly committed prisoners, the power to release others must be expanded.

“Reducing the population in pre-trial detention and expanding the availability and encouraging greater use of community-based sanctions, where those are appropriate, is a clear way to do this safely and effectively. Legislation to address these key issues must be prioritised,” she said.

Read the full article here.