PRISON DANGER AS ATTACKS BY INMATES SOAR

Exercise yards and tuck shops among most likely assault sites

- BY DARRAGH McDONAGH

NEW figures published by the Department of Justice have revealed the most dangerous parts of a prison following a 30% spike in the number of inmate-on-inmate assaults last year.

The data shows that one in four assaults took place in the exercise yard of detention facilities during 2024, while other attacks were recorded in areas including kitchens, tuck shops, and stairwells.

A total of 884 direct physical assaults involving prisoners occurred in Irish jails last year - 211 more than in 2023.

Some 238 of these took place in prison cells, while 237 assaults happened on landings outside the cells, according to figures provided by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy.