Minister under fire for prison overcrowding comments

The Justice Minister has come under fire for claims he made in relation to overcrowding in prisons. In an interview on The Tonight Show on Virgin Media Television, Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that prisons should not be “clogged up” with non-violent offenders such as shoplifters and people with addiction issues. Minister O’Callaghan says instead; he wants to ensure prisons are predominantly used for violent offenders. The Irish Prison Officers Association has previously requested a meeting with the Minister over the issues facing the sector. Its Deputy General Secretary and Dromahair native, Gabriel Keaveny says the invite still stands: