Will Mountjoy crisis ever end?
Related Articles
ONCE again, Mountjoy Prison is at boiling point. As it has been, periodically, for the past 40 years or more. The latest ominous spates of violence have been blamed on overcrowding, just as they have been for decades. Last night, 656 inmates were crammed into a prison that has 540 bed spaces and which was originally designed to house 420 prisoners. Some of the luckier ones got to sleep among the shower units.
There will be talks today between prison officers' representatives and the authorities about a rapidly deteriorating situation. As there have been so many times in the past.
The Minister for Justice has said the overcrowding will be alleviated soon with the provision of a further 400 prison spaces in the summer at Castlerea, Portlaoise, and Wheatfield.
Meanwhile, the much vaunted new superprison, which would replace Mountjoy, has been deemed too expensive and appears to be on hold. Millions have been spent but not a brick laid. Still, the Taoiseach insists that the project will go ahead, somehow. Thornton Hall may be located somewhere in north County Dublin, but it might as well be in Limbo.
Just a week ago, Mr Ahern said the Government was firmly committed to the Thornton Hall project and added that the level of overcrowding was less here than in most EU states. Mr Ahern also told us on Wednesday that we have the highest standard of living in Europe.
Why do the sceptical Irish remain so resolutely unconvinced, despite such cheering reassurances?
