Mountjoy Prison

Mountjoy is the primary committal prison in the state for adults 18 and over. Designed by Colonel Joshua Jebb, Pentonville Prison architect, Mountjoy was built around 1850 to serve as the first stop for men sentenced for a period of "transportation," where they would serve a brief time in separate confinement before being transportated first to Spike Island, and then eventualy, Van Diemen's land. Irish Medical student Kevin Barry, who was later martyred following his service in the Irish War of Independence, was hanged in Mountjoy for ambushing British Soldiers. Photographs taken within Mountjoy by photographer Noel Bowler can be viewed at: mongrel.ie/issue17/photos.php.

A study of Mountjoy female inmates conducted by Mohan et al (1997) found that 58% of the inmates were dependent on drugs, with over 80% of these inmates chronic reoffenders. 24% of the prisoners met the criteria for other Axis-I diagnoses, such as acute psychosis. Younger inmates were more likely to abuse drugs, and older prisoners more likely be diagnosed with Axis-I disorders. Overall, their study found that women inmates had a high level of morbidity in psychiatric disorders. In all cases, heroin was overwhelmingly the most popular. They speculated that at least one of the inmates should have received hospitalization instead of prison custody (and maximum-security placement, at that). Local practice in Ireland detains offenders awaiting psychiatric assessment in custody. Almost all of the drug-dependent offenders committed drug-related crimes that were only related to obtaining money for their habit, with only one offender committing a crime precipitated by an intoxicated state.

Programs

Mountjoy's educational programs include, among others: literacy, mathematics, career counselling, art, computer-skills, and arts & crafts. Treatment Programs Mountjoy provides a methadone maintenance program offered to any offender registered with a community clinic prior to committal, as well as its Drug Treatment Program, which is a six-week course of detoxification, counselling, and support. Groups such as A.A., N.A., and the Samaritans conduct visits regularly.

>> News

8 May 2006

An internal investigation is looking into the attack of a 22 year-old inmate, who was was stabbed several times in the neck Friday evening in the recreation hall. After being transferred to Mater Hospital, the man was treated until his condition was listed as stable.

10 February 2006

A 23-year-old prisoner was found unconscious in his cell at 9:40 a.m. He was immediately given medical attention, but later died in Mater Hospital at 10:25 p.m. Governor John Lonergan launched an inquiry into the inmate's death.

16 January 2006

A contract was awarded to an international consortium of technical consultants to construct a new Mountjoy prison in March of 2007 in north Co Dublin. The new prison will include:

• a 150-acre, €30 million site at Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, north CO Dublin (the current Mountjoy site is only 20 acres)
• a capacity of 1,000 inmates
• a tree-planting program

The relocation is intended to ease the overcrowding afflicting the existing Mountjoy prison on North Circular Road. Currently, many cells are housing 4 people at once, and some without in-cell sanitation, requiring inmates to "slop out" each morning in chamber pots. Some female low-risk prisoners have even been released ahead of their expiry date because of overcrowding. About 400 inmates are suing the prison service because of such conditions (Irish Times 16 January 2006).

The existing Mountjoy land, which lies adjacent to the Royal Canal, will be considered very attractive to investors once the site has been vacated, with some estimating that it could fetch Euro 10 million and Euro 100 million an acre.

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