Foreign Inmate Numbers in Irish Prisons Surge by 222 in 19 Months

UPDATE: Foreign inmate numbers in Irish prisons have surged by 222 in just 19 months, reflecting a significant trend in the country’s correctional system. From January 2024 until the end of August 2024, the population of non-Irish prisoners rose from 760 to 982, currently constituting nearly 18% of the total prison population.

The latest data from the Irish Prison Service reveals that as of August 2024, there are 939 non-Irish men and 43 women incarcerated. Notably, this group includes high-profile offenders such as Josef Puska, the convicted killer of Ashling Murphy, and eight drug traffickers involved in the €160 million drug shipment seized from the MV Matthews off the Irish coast in September 2023.

The breakdown of foreign inmates shows that the majority are EU citizens, with 460 from neighboring countries. Additionally, there are 147 from Africa, 129 British, 95 from Asia, and 61 from South America, primarily Brazil. The figures also include 13 North Americans, 14 from the Middle East, and 55 from other non-EU European nations such as Georgia and Albania.

Overall, the total number of prisoners in Ireland has risen sharply from 4,717 in January 2024 to over 5,500 today. An Irish Prison source commented, “The number jailed has increased and is to be expected with a growing population of over five and a half million. It does seem there has been a big increase in foreign offenders. However, in the bigger scheme of things, this is an increase of maybe one percent over the last two years compared to the overall prison population.”

The source emphasized that the majority of serious crimes, including murder and rape, are committed by Irish citizens, stating, “It is a lie to say otherwise and these figures prove it. Ireland, in terms of crime figures, is still one of the safest countries in the world, and if I am to be honest, one of the biggest issues is domestic violence and people—especially women—losing their lives to people they know.”

As this situation develops, the public and policymakers will need to watch closely for any shifts in crime trends and the implications for community safety in Ireland.

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