Government neglect blamed for prisoner overdoses

Chronic overcrowding and lack of adequate staffing can be attributed as some of the reasons behind the hospitalisation of twelve prisoners from Portlaoise Prison. Eleven prisoners remain in hospital after falling seriously ill after a suspected drug overdoses. It’s believed that three are in intensive care, while the eight others are said to be in a stable condition. The incident occurred mere weeks after the Irish Prison Service issued an urgent drug alert across all prisons. Deputy General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association and Dromahair native, Gabriel Keaveny says action must be taken address the issue of drugs in Irish prisons: