Prison drugs crisis soaring

Seven inmates in hospital after they took homemade benzos

- JOHN HAND

SEVEN inmates were put in hospital after taking homemade benzos which were thrown into a prison yard this week, it has emerged. 

The Irish Prison Service says drug use has soared once more following the pandemic as it works on strategies to combat the issue.

Its Director General Caron McCaffrey says the IPS estimates that around 40% of people admitted to jail have drugs concealed internally.

And 70% of lags have an “active” addiction.

They are looking at new technology to help fight that such as an X-Ray scanner system which would show if someone has drugs concealed internally.

But traditional methods of throwing them over the fence into prison yards is also continuing.

Sources say copper pipes are being used with the drugs put into one side so when it’s thrown on to the net, it’s weighted and slips through the net and into the yard. Tennis balls are also used in different incidents.

This week at Cloverhill Prison, seven inmates took benzos which had been thrown into the yard.