Prison service working with HSE after number of overdose presentations at jail

The Irish Prison Service said it is working closely with the HSE following a number of overdose presentations in custody at Midlands Prison.

In a statement, the Irish Prison Service said “extra vigilance” is being taken within the prison and information for prisoners around the dangers of taking contraband has been shared.

The incidents happened at the prison in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on Friday, according to the statement.

It said that prison staff has increased the use of random and intelligence-led cell searches on a daily basis.

Its canine unit is to carry out searches around the prisons, including a “greater focus on searching deliveries into prisons”.

“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,” it said in a statement.

The statement continued: “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.

“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.”