DRUGS 'TAKING OVER' AT NEW WOMEN'S PRISON

THE COUNTRY'S only women's prison, the state-of-the-art Dochas Centre at
Mountjoy, is plagued by overcrowding and a serious drug problem,
according to a new report.

Staff shortages and lack of adequate supervision are allowing a drug
culture to continue unchecked and untackled, it claims.

And the continued use of the centre as a female remand facility was
undermining the entire complex and causing problems which could have
"disastrous" consequential effects.

The hard-hitting report, compiled for the Prison Officers' Association
national executive, comes just over a year after the pounds 13m "model"
prison was opened.

The prison now needs its own governor, it argues, and regimes and
practices are needed to make it an attractive place for staff to work
in.

Compiled by the POA's assistant general secretary, Larry Buggy, the
report has been sent to the Department of Justice, the Prison Services
Board and the prison Governor John Lonergan.

But the Prisons Service says Mountjoy Female where convicted killers,
including Catherine Nevin, are held represents "a quantum leap in terms
of working conditions for staff and living conditions for prisoners."

In a statement the Service said it "would prefer to respond to staff via
their representatives rather than via the mass media."

The most serious allegations made in the report centre on the drugs
issue.

"Many staff are very concerned that a culture of drug abuse and drug use
by prisoners continues during their periods of incarceration at the
Dochas Centre," it says. It also highlights:

* Low-level security in the prison leading to easy access of drugs

* A regular supply of drugs being trafficked through visits, which are
now conducted on a "more family-friendly" basis

* A lack of searches of cells and prisoners

* Failure to tackle the problem implying tolerance of "an acceptable
level of drug abuse" on the inside.

Mr Buggy urges random searches and withdrawal of privileges and stresses
that the drug culture presents dangers for both prisoners and staff.
Only by tackling it head-on can it be eradicated, he says.

The POA is also concerned about the "policing" of the
methadone-maintenance and detox programmes. Staff intelligence indicates
that urine samples are "regularly" interfered with and that additives,
such as liquid soap, are used to negate the presence of any illegal
substances.

The overcrowding the plague of Mountjoy male prison for years which
created the revolving-door system is a problem within Dochas. Padded
cells and strip cells are being used to accommodate inmates overnight
before the revolving-door system allows others out on temporary release.

In recent weeks Dublin city businesses have complained that regular
shoplifters are back in their stores in a matter of weeks.

"There is an immediate need for a remand centre to house between 40 and
50 prisoners," Mr Buggy says. "The continued use of the Dochas centre as
a female remand facility is undermining the entire complex and could
have disastrous consequential effects."

At the same time he claims that proper assessment is not taking place,
because of the overcrowding, and that depressed, disturbed or
special-care prisoners are not being identified.