Prisoner numbers are on course to reach 6,000 in a matter of months — a level of overcrowding prison sources say is “unimaginable”, as maximum capacity is only 4,700. Serious concern was expressed when prison numbers breached the 5,000 landmark in June 2024 but the crisis gathered speed in 2025, climbing to 5,800 just before Christmas. Prison numbers reached a new record on December 17, with 5,810 in custody — 24% above the maximum possible capacity of 4,702. "Mountjoy numbers are really worrying," one source said. The Cloverhill Prison Visiting Committee expressed serious concern at the high numbers of cells holding three or four prisoners.

Source: Irish Examiner January 06, 2026 00:28 UTC