A leading Irish prison group has called for a reduction in the number of prisoners in custody in Ireland after a Covid-19 outbreak hit one of the country’s largest prisons.
It emerged on Friday evening that five inmates at the Midlands Prison in Co Laois had tested positive for coronavirus, prompting fears of a wider outbreak among the jail’s 777 inmates.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has called the spate of cases “concerning”, and demanded a reduction in the numbers in custody “in order to minimise cell sharing”.
“The outbreak within Midlands prison is concerning as it is Ireland’s largest prison, where 60% of the men share cells with at least one other person,” an IPRT spokesperson told the Irish Mirror.
The outbreak – the first time Covid-19 has been detected in an Irish prison beyond inmates on remand and those coming and going for court appearances – is concerning given the demographics of the prison, the spokesperson added.
“Midlands prison also holds a high number of elderly prisoners with complex medical needs, who are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and related complications.”
The five prisoners who tested positive have all been isolated and kept away from the permanent prison population.
None of the five have been hospitalised so far, but they are being closely monitored in case their condition deteriorates
The IPRT is calling for increased phone access for prisoners – as well as more opportunities for video calls with family members – “at what is a very worrying time for both those in custody and their families in the community”.
In response to the outbreak, it’s understood that an an Outbreak Control Team meeting has now taken place to review the cases and agree the appropriate actions to be taken against the further possible spread of the disease within the prison.
A prison source said: “We are not prepared to say who the inmates with Covid are. We are doing everything in our power to ensure it doesn't spread through the prison population in the Midlands.”
