Separately, 78 prisoners were waiting for addiction services or treatments in the Roscommon Prison at the end of 2022.

Justice Minister Simon Harris says it's very important to deter these types of attacks.

According to the report, no doctor could be contacted to formally pronounce Mr G dead.

150 items were recovered by prison service staff from the Roscommon prison last year.

News of the man's death at Castlerea prison has emerged in recent hours.

The 38-year-old man, who can't be named to protect the identity of his partner and son, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to her at their home address in Co Leitrim on July 5, 2020.

The man had only started a jail term two days before the attack.

Kathleen lost her sons Eoghan and Ruairi in 2013.