Roscommon JPC chairman tells judges: 'Send more criminals to jail'

The chairman of Roscommon joint policing committee says some judges are treating criminals far too leniently and should be sending more of them to jail.

It comes as the country’s prisons are overcrowded, with almost 4,900 inmates behind bars – almost 400 more than capacity.

There are 376 prisoners locked up in Castlerea Prison, while the normal limit is 340.

Cllr Tom Crosby says judges are giving too many serious criminals suspended sentences.