Virgin Media TV, Ireland AM: Prison overdoses

15th August 2024

On 15 August 2024, Irish Penal Reform Trust Executive Director Saoirse Brady joined presenters Muireann O'Connell and Ray Foley on Virgin Media TV Ireland AM show. She discussed the prison overdose story and expanded on the need for wider penal reform.

Saoirse spoke about a number of topics including;

• The Irish Prison Service Drugs Strategy follows a no-tolerance approach and how in the community it is a harm reduction approach.
• Overcrowding across the prison estate adding extra pressure, with long waiting lists for assessments and counselling in prison.
• The prevalence of short sentences and the need to focus on serving sentences in the community.
• The impact of housing crisis, difficulties maintaining employment and contact with their family members.
• The cost of sending people to prison compared to community service.
• That investment should include redirecting resources to the community and diverting people from prison.

Watch back the Ireland AM segment on prison overdoses on the Virgin Media player.