Once the new unit, set to cater for 230 male and 100 female inmates, is in place, Cork Prison will have the capacity for roughly 636 prisoners.

The plan, brought to Cabinet yesterday by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan, could see the old prison torn down and replaced by facility for both male and female inmates. 

Micheál Martin told The Echo he would be ive of a proposal to use the building to help address overcrowding at the current prison.

With reference to Cork, a spokesperson for the IPS told The Echo it is working on “a small capital project to provide accommodation for up to an additional 10 prisoners within the existing prison by reconfiguring areas into living accommodation”.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said that the current programme for government “commits to implement electronic tagging” for appropriate offenders by the end of 2025.

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”.

Mr O’Callaghan was speaking to reporters after a visit to Cork Prison on Friday.

There were 135 prisoner-on-prisoner direct physical assaults in Cork Prison last year, the second-highest amount in Ireland, according to figures released by the Irish Prison Service (IPS).

Figures provided to Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North-Central Pádraig O’Sullivan show that the daily average in custody in 2024 was 335, compared to 306 in 2023, 262 in 2022 and 255 in 2021.

With continued pressure on prisoner numbers nationally, the site has been identified as a possible location for additional prisoner accommodation.

In March 2023, an unannounced inspection was carried out in Cork Prison which was experiencing “unprecedented overcrowding at the time”, the inspector said.

Cork Prison had 367 inmates in custody yesterday, 71 more people than the prison is designed to accommodate, meaning that nearly 20% of inmates are still without a bed.

The prison, which has a capacity of 296, had 372 people in custody yesterday, representing 126% capacity. 

The Irish Prison Service told The Echo it “is working closely with the HSE in response to a number of overdose presentations in custody at Cork Prison".

There are 66 people on temporary release from Cork Prison, but these are not included in the figures for the special Christmas temporary leave. 

An average of 35% of people in Cork prison were participating in education during the last three months of 2023, below the national average of 45%.

Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara has addressed the European Parliament in regard to the issue of Ireland’s prison overcrowding.

There are 5,086 people in custody in Irish prisons, which have 4,519 beds.

Mr Martin was speaking to reporters in Blackpool while canvassing and was asked by The Echo about conditions in the prison, as reported by this newspaper.

Cork Prison saw 355 people in custody on Friday last week, a record high, and figures have risen even higher since, with 361 in custody at the beginning of this week. This represents 122% capacity, with 65 people sleeping on the floor.

A Cork prison officer said he expects the numbers to continue to rise “due to the circuit court in full swing at this time of year".

The Open Door project is a collaboration between the Irish Prison Service, MTU’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality and the Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities. 

There were 346 people in the prison, which has a capacity of 296, on Monday, down from 349 on Friday and 351 on Thursday of last week, with almost 70 prisoners currently out on temporary release.

An FOI request by The Echo for a feasibility report by the Irish Prison Service into its potential use was denied as 'the requester would thereby become aware of a significant decision that the body proposes to make'. 

Cork prison is currently operating at 111% capacity

The award honours outstanding contributions to adult education, lifelong learning, and the advocacy of access for non-traditional students. 

The package includes a diverse selection of novels, short stories, and poetry, described as 'reflecting the vibrant literary landscape of Ireland'.

In a video posted on TikTok, a man is seen filming a walk around the old prison which he describes as being one of the best abandoned facilities of its type he has ever seen.

A Cork Prison officer told The Echo that “staff are being stretched” and are “absolutely exhausted”.

The accused had 116 previous convictions, including four for having possession of drugs and one for having them for sale or supply.

The old Cork Prison facility was built in the early 1800s and operated as a prison up to 2016 when it was deemed no longer suitable for use due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation.

The initiative is a collaboration between Cork Penny Dinners, Churchfield Community Trust and Cork Prison.

Yesterday, there were 348 inmates in custody at Cork Prison, which was at 118% capacity.

As of Friday, March 29, there were 340 people in Cork Prison, 15% over the bed capacity for 296 people, and considerably more than on the same date last year, when there 309 prisoners in custody.

Sergeant John Kelleher said directions were awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions

Analysis carried out by the HSE’s National Drug Treatment Centre laboratory has confirmed the presence of a nitazene type substance associated with a number of overdoses in Irish prisons in recent days.

Judge Mary Dorgan was told that both officers needed medical attention following the alleged incident on September 8, 2023.

Inmates John, 34, and James, 36, spoke to The Echo prior to the event, detailing their experience with the programme and what it means to be a part of something positive.

The university accredited module, one of the first of its kind within the Irish prison system, teaches basic knowledge about the most commonly misused substances and provides clarity on the distinction between substance use, misuse and dependence.

A Cork councillor has claimed family of inmates at Cork Prison are being blackmailed

Crisis has led to speculation that the old Cork Prison may be used to address the situation.

Cork Prison’s carpentry class has had a positive impact on many people over the years. Sarah Horgan speaks to Caroline Duggan, who’s son benefitted from the initiative prior to his death

Irish Penal Reform Trust executive director Saoirse Brady described the measures as inhumane.

Volunteer coordinator of Cork Penny Dinners, Caitríona Twomey, has in recent days called for a complete overhaul of the vacant building to enable it to be used for emergency accommodation.

It was awarded for the highly innovative pop-up restaurant in Cork Prison, designed to train prisoners in the culinary arts and hospitality industry.

John O’Driscoll, aged 42, ran 13 miles in a time of 1 hour and 57 minutes on Sunday. 

As a result of its investigation into the death of the man, identified only as Mr C, the IoP has called on the Irish Prison Service (IPS) to ensure healthcare appointments for prisoners are not cancelled because prison staff are unavailable to escort them.