Mass overdose incident at Midlands Prison in Portlaoise may be linked to drone drugs drop
It’s believed nine overdoses occurred at the prison following drone drug drops
Drugs dropped by drone into the Midlands Prison are suspected to have led to a number of inmates suffering overdoses leaving one prisoner in a coma.
It’s reported that two drones dropped drugs into the Midlands Prison on Thursday night and into Friday morning. In the following hours nine inmates became unwell with three requiring treatment at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, including one inmate who is in a coma.
The Irish Prison Service issued a statement following the incident at the Midlands Prison.
They said The Irish Prison Service is working closely with the HSE in response to a number of “overdose presentations” in custody at Midlands Prison on Friday, September 18, 2026.
The IPS said extra vigilance is being taken within the prison and information for prisoners around the dangers of consuming contraband has commenced.
“The Irish Prison Service is committed to preventing the access of contraband including drugs into prisons and continues to be a high priority for the Irish Prison Service. The Irish Prison Service has committed to continuing to invest in new technologies and measures to support our efforts to keep contraband out of prisons,” they said.
Although metal mesh netting is being tested as a cover over the yard at Portlaoise Prison, it’s understood no such measure is in place at the nearby Midlands Prison where this incident occurred.
The IPS said “prison staff have increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis. Our Canine Unit carry out searches around the prisons, including a greater focus on searching deliveries into prisons.”
“The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with An Garda Síochána with regard to preventing contraband entering our prison and this happens at both local and national level. The Irish Prison Service work closely with colleagues in An Garda Síochána on a regular basis and the sharing of intelligence has led to target searches resulting in the seizure of contraband,” they said.
The IPS said there is a free confidential telephone line (1800 855 717) and text line (086 180 2449) which is operational. Prisoners, visitors, staff or members of the public with information on the trafficking of prohibited items into our prisons can pass on that information in the strictest confidence.