Mountjoy refurbishment sees violent incidents fall

Prison governor Brian Murphy has attributed the fall to the long-term refurbishment of Ireland’s largest prison, which has cost around €28 million so far.

The practice of slopping out has now been ended in the prison and inmates are staying single cells with in-cell sanitation, TVs, and computers with controlled Internet access.

The D wing was recently refurbished as part of the final phase of the refurbishment and in-cell sanitation project, which commenced in 2014. It included the conversion of a number of training workshops into cells.

The refurbished C wing, with in-cell sanitation and a dedicated committal unit, was reopened in May 2012. The A and B wings had been refurbished earlier.

Further work is taking place to create new sports and leisure facilities on the site, including a gym and an all-weather soccer pitch.

The Prison Service said the improved facilities and increased access to education and training programmes have already contributed to the reduction in the number of violent incidents.