A new unit is being established within the prison service in an effort to counter the power of gangland crime bosses and to prevent drugs, weapons and mobile phones being smuggled into prisons, Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan announced last night. Stephen Collins, Political Editor, reports.
The move follows a number of incidents over recent months involving illicit material such as drugs and mobile phones being found in prisons.
In the latest prison incident on Monday a 24-year-old prisoner in Mountjoy was stabbed to death after a dispute with another inmate.
Mr Lenihan said he had obtained Government approval for an extra 178 staff to deal with the problem as part of a range of new security measures. He said that the extra staff would be part of a special unit with the specific task of searching prisons and gathering intelligence on contraband.
"The first step that has to be taken is to secure our prisons from having objects smuggled into them. It is vital to have surveillance of visitors, prisoners and staff to target people smuggling material into prisons. This will be a separate unit outside the structure of the prison governors," said Mr Lenihan.
He added that it was vital to ensure that the influence exercised by gangland bosses on the street was not transferred to the prisons, but he emphasised that the measures were being planned for some weeks and were not simply a response to Monday's incident.
Among the range of measures announced by the Minister are:
The establishment of a drug detection dog service involving some 30 staff to provide sniffer dogs at all prisons;
The establishment of an operational support group that will generate intelligence on contraband concealed inside prisons;
These staff will be available in addition to the normal prison staff and can target specific problem areas;
The introduction of security screening (X-ray/metal detectors) for all persons (prisoners, visitors and staff) entering prisons;
Two special segregation units for suspected gang leaders in Cloverhill Prison.
"The success of the gardaí in combating criminal gangs has resulted in the imprisonment of many gang leaders and this has led to increased inter-gang violence within the prison system," said Mr Lenihan.
"Despite active security measures already taken by the Irish Prison Service, there are persistent and organised attempts by such gangs to smuggle drugs, mobile phones and other illicit materials into our prisons. These items are used to manipulate and intimidate other prisoners into their groupings within prison and allow gang leaders to continue having an influence on criminal activities outside prison," he said.
The Minister added that measures had already been taken to address the problems. Security netting had been installed, non contact visits were being made the norm, intensive searches had been carried out in Portlaoise and other prisons, possession of a mobile phone in prison had been made a serious offence and technology to block mobile calls was being installed on a pilot basis in the Midlands Prison.
"In addition two special units are being introduced to ensure that any gang leaders identified can be segregated . . . so that they are not in a position to intimidate, manipulate or organise other prisoners," said Mr Lenihan.
He added that the death of Derek Glennon in Mountjoy Prison on Monday emphasised the need for extra stringent security measures. The Minister expressed his condolences to the family of Mr Glennon.