As prison crowding worsens, secret documents reveal the alarming lengths jail chiefs were prepared to go in case serious rioting broke out among inmates

By DEBBIE MCCANN and JOHN DRENNAN and KEN FOXE Published: 22:01, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 22:01, 3 August 2026 The Irish Prison Service considered using hostage-negotiation training and courthouse cells in the event of serious riots due to prison overcrowding. They also considered a meeting with the Probation Service and judges about short prison stays to ‘encourage the use of community service orders rather than the imposition of sentences of 12 months or less’. New information obtained under Freedom of Information shows that ‘operational tensions’ were so ‘severe’ that the Irish Prison Service needed to be ready for further escalation and plans were put in place.  Contact was even made with the Courts Service to see if its holding cells could be used in the event of an emergency. At the time, 5,767 people were being held in just 4,718 available spaces, with 611 prisoners sleeping on mattresses on floors. This weekend the figure was 5,741 with bed capacity at 4,802. Minutes of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) response group’s meeting from January also detail how they had sought a fixed cap on prisoner numbers from the Department of Justice.  The Irish Prison Service considered using hostage-negotiation training and courthouse cells in the event of serious riots due to prison overcrowding However, the proposal had not been approved by Minister Jim O’Callaghan. The new records show that in desperation the IPS sought to impose a limit on numbers itself.  ‘The IPS stated that a maximum number would be reached – irrespective of agreement on a cap – due to the inability for [them] to accommodate additional prisoners once all usable, secure floor space had been exhausted,’ said the new records. Last year, the Irish Mail on Sunday reported that dozens of prisoners in jail for serious offences – including attempted murder – were being temporarily freed to ease the overcrowding crisis.  The release of the prisoners was part of a ‘structured’ response to ease pressure on jails. The lack of halfway housing to support public safety when criminals were released was also lamented in the new records. Concerns were raised as well about the increasing number of people on remand with little data available on why bail was objected to. There was a particular problem with what was called the ‘holding cell phenomenon’, according to records released under FOI. This involved cases where a person was held on remand, sometimes for months, yet later released without a custodial sentence. It said there was a stark rise in the number detained ahead of trial for offences categorised as attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassment and related offences. 'O’Callaghan will only let people on bail or in for petty crimes out with the greatest of reluctance because he wants to guard his reputation for being tough on crime,' a minister shared  This had more than quadrupled from just 84 cases in 2010 to 402 in 2025. A separate discussion paper looked at factors that might be causing the prison population in Ireland to grow so rapidly. It asked whether higher policing numbers and detection rates, and the volume of cases being heard in court, were factors. ‘Has there been a shift in the proportion of total cases where there has been a conviction?  'In other words, are more people found guilty?’ it said. Another entry said: ‘Have we seen a shift in the mix of crimes occurring and detected over time?  'Are there more offences occurring that carry a custodial sentence?’ Concerns were also raised over how to gather accurate data on how many court sittings were actually taking place. The Courts Service said it did not have capacity to collect the information but suggested historic data might indicate ‘future trends’. The minutes said: ‘[The] IPS emphasised that timely data on increased sittings and special sittings would support operational planning for prisoner escorts and possible committals.’ A list of suggested actions following the meeting included a possible sit-down between the Probation Service and judges about short prison stays. A note said: ‘Recognising their constitutional independence, to engage with the judiciary and encourage the use of community service orders rather than the imposition of sentences of 12 months or less.’ Commenting on the new information, a minister told the MoS this weekend: ‘When it comes to the prison service the sense is that the minister [Jim O’Callaghan] is very aware he is always a day away from some absolute nightmare. ‘There is a crisis sitting there like a powder keg ready to go off. ‘The system is dysfunctional beyond belief.  'O’Callaghan will only let people on bail or in for petty crimes out with the greatest of reluctance because he wants to guard his reputation for being tough on crime. ‘He doesn’t want to be seen to be soft. ‘He is dodging a lot of bullets in Justice at the moment, that’s the nature of the job, but this is one of the bigger ones.’ Meanwhile, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín told the MoS the chronic overcrowding in prisons was leading to early releases, which is a danger to public safety and undermines the justice system.  Asked about the new records, an IPS spokesman said the service was required to accept into custody all persons committed to prison by the courts ‘Aontú figures this year showed prisons are so overcrowded, nearly 600 inmates are sleeping on mattresses on the floor and others were sleeping four to a room. ‘The jails were 1,100 prisoners over capacity.  'Early release is not driven by justice or serving time for the crime but dictated by space.  'Our data showed 1,000 prisoners were released within 24 hours of being sent to jail. ‘Meanwhile the abandoned super prison Thornton Hall – bought 20 years ago for massive money to deal with overcrowded prisons – lies vacant and unused.  'The plan to use it for another unfolding crisis in the form of IPAS accommodation failed.  'Millions of taxpayers’ money was spent on a place that never housed a prisoner, while the prisons were jammed. ‘All of these issues were predictable and preventable.  'They’re a direct consequence of the usual failures in long-term planning. It’s a failure of preparation, a failure of delivery.  'Again, it’s an example of Ireland having more money than ever, yet less than ever to show for it.’ Asked about the new records, an IPS spokesman said the service was required to accept into custody all persons committed to prison by the courts. He said: ‘Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, the Irish Prison Service makes every effort to manage this safely, including the use of Temporary Release where appropriate. ‘All decisions on Temporary Release are taken on a case-by-case basis, and the safety of the public is paramount.’ The spokesman said significant work had been undertaken to increase prison capacity, with 446 additional spaces brought on stream since 2022. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.