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14/03/2012
Report Critical Of Prison Overcrowding
A report from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has said that overcrowding is the main characteristic of Irish prisons.
The report has called for the Government to adopt a radically different approach to imprisonment, saying that overcrowding leads to a “pressure cooker” atmosphere.
Campaigner Fr Peter McVerry said that penal policy over the last 20 years has lead to acceptance of a continual rise in the prison population.
He added that improvements made by building new prison facilities has been negated by increasing levels of overcrowding.
Future prison policy must reflect that people are sent to prison ''as'' punishment and not ''for'' punishment, he continued.
He said imprisonment should be kept to a minimum and alternative and non-custodial sentences should be used as an alternative.
Former governor of Mountjoy John Lonergan said while prison authorities must try keep drugs out of prison, the reality is that the costly measures needed to control their entry will be ultimately of very limited effect if the demand for them persists.
(H)
The report has called for the Government to adopt a radically different approach to imprisonment, saying that overcrowding leads to a “pressure cooker” atmosphere.
Campaigner Fr Peter McVerry said that penal policy over the last 20 years has lead to acceptance of a continual rise in the prison population.
He added that improvements made by building new prison facilities has been negated by increasing levels of overcrowding.
Future prison policy must reflect that people are sent to prison ''as'' punishment and not ''for'' punishment, he continued.
He said imprisonment should be kept to a minimum and alternative and non-custodial sentences should be used as an alternative.
Former governor of Mountjoy John Lonergan said while prison authorities must try keep drugs out of prison, the reality is that the costly measures needed to control their entry will be ultimately of very limited effect if the demand for them persists.
(H)
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26 March 2013
Second Plea For Public Not To Attend Emergency Department
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Limerick’s Mid-Western Regional Hospital have, for the second time in five days, appealed to appeal not to attend the emergency department, unless absolutely necessary. The hospital are blaming overcrowding, saying that as of Tuesday morning 38 were on trolleys, the highest in the country.
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Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Cloudy with clear spells, mainly dry evening becoming windy with rain at times from late evening. Turning drier with clear spells towards morning. Milder than of late. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
