The amount of prisoner-on-prisoner attacks at Castlerea Prison form 2023 to 2024 has more than trebled.
That’s according to figures obtained by the Irish Independent, which shows that there were 20 attacks in 2023, which jumped to 72 in 2024.
Across the nation, there is a significant rise in the amount of assaults, and the Prison Officer’s Association has put this down to overcrowding.
Prisoners are being forced to share cells designed for one person due to the overcrowding, where one inmate sleeps on a mattress on the floor.
There are now 5,268 prisoners in custody, which is 114% of bed capacity.
Limerick female prison is at 150% capacity, while it’s men’s facility is at 135%.
Capacity at Castlerea Prison is currently at 119%.
Commenting on the figures, deputy general secretary of the Prisoner Officers’ Association Gabriel Keaveny said that the problem of assault comes back to overcrowding.
He also added that there are situations in Mountjoy Prison whereby three people are sleeping in a cell designed to accommodate one.
