Justice Minister Helen McEntee reveals she wants to re-look at building prison on controversial Thornton Hall site

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee says she wants to re-look at building a new prison on the controversial Thornton Hall site.

Speaking to reporters at the annual conference for the Prison Officers Association (POA) in Sligo, Minister McEntee revealed her plans for a review into building a prison on the 164-square metre site - which the government infamously purchased for €30 million in 2004, despite fields nearby of the same size being valued at just €6 million.

Ultimately, the site was deemed unsuitable for a supermax prison proposed by then Minister Michael McDowell - and it has gone on to be labelled as a 'cabbage patch', used by the Irish Prison Service that the State has since spent over €50 million on.

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“Prison capacity and space is an issue. We have a site that is owned by the Irish Prison Service on Thornton Hall," Ms McEntee said.

“A review was done back in 2011 which at the time said it was not a suitable site for a super prison but that we should in turn in time look at the potential for a prison on that site.”

Minister McEntee said she has since set up a review group to look at where a new prison could be built - and that review will consider the Thornton Hall site.

“That will of course include a review of Thornton Hall, a site that we have that was intended for a prison space. If it is not suitable then and we need to look elsewhere then we will do that. If it is, then I think we need to move and make plans of what that might look like,” she said.

“But that’s part of the review, it's owned by the Irish Prison Service. I think it’s only right that we look once and for all as to whether or not this is a suitable site for a prison.”

Since the purchase of Thornton Hall, the IPS have used the field by having up to 12 prisoners working on it every day - with those serving community service or on temporary release making up the bulk of them.

The Minister also told reporters her department has secured €50 million in funding to have new spaces made available on four current prison sites - to deal with the overcrowding crisis.

Responding to criticism that the process is taking too long, she said: “I think people appreciate that if you're building a house it takes time. You have to put plans in, you have to secure funding, you have to secure finance.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

“Prison is no different. In fact it's on a much larger, much higher scale. There is progress. With any build, it does take time, but I am looking now beyond 2030, and an increase in population.”

Her comments on the overcrowding crisis come as POA President Tony Power said in his opening speech to delegates that multiple attempts to highlight the issue have “fallen on deaf ears” as the number of prisoners now rises to a staggering 5,000.

“Delegates, five years ago I stood on this very stage as the numbers of prisoners in custody was fast approaching 4,000 and I pleaded with the then Minister for Justice, Mr. Charlie Flanagan, to ensure we did not return to the old days of 'Pack em, Stack em and Rack em',” he said.

“Last year, I made a similar plea to the then acting Minister for Justice and now An Taoiseach Mr. Simon Harris.

“Today the number of prisoners in custody across the estate is about to reach a staggering 5,000. Yes, 5,000. That is an incredible 25 per cent increase on the figure of five years ago.

“And has there been a 25 per cent increase in cell accommodation you might well ask? Delegates, we all know the answer to that question. It’s very clear that our attempts to highlight this issue continually fall on deaf ears, and despite the promises on real extra spaces made here year on year by successive Ministers – nothing happens – nothing. And this is a disgrace, let’s just call it what it is.”

Mr Power went on to say that the crisis had not happened overnight - and claimed that it has been ignored by those in authority.

“This is not an overcrowding crisis that happened overnight, a crisis that couldn’t have been foreseen as the Director General has previously stated. In simple terms it has been flagged, identified and largely ignored,“ he said.

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