33 inmates on mattresses in Castlerea as national prison overcrowding branded crisis

Overcrowding in Castlerea Prison remains a major issue as prison officers meet today for their national annual conference.

340 men are currently incarcerated at the Roscommon Prison, with 33 inmates being accommodated on mattresses in cells.

The POA's annual conference is taking place in Galway today.

It says the Government's proposal to appoint more judges this year will lead to more overcrowding in prisons.

President of the Association, Tony Power, outlines just how bad the situation is:

'The overcrowding is at a crisis point at the moment. We probably have close on 200 prisoners now sleeping on floors on mattresses. Cells that were designed for one inmate are actually holding up to three people.'