Three Babies Born to Inmates in Irish Prisons This Year

UPDATE: In a significant report released by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, it has been confirmed that three babies have been born to inmates in Irish prisons this year. This urgent update highlights a notable increase in the number of births compared to previous years.

As of now, two infants were born at the Dochas Centre in Dublin, with one additional birth occurring at Limerick Women’s Prison. These figures reflect a stark contrast to the 2023 statistics, where no babies were born to inmates, and only one infant was born in 2021 and 2020.

The report also reveals that there are currently 19 pregnant women incarcerated across Irish prisons in 2025, with 13 at Dochas and 6 at Limerick. This is an increase from 27 pregnant women jailed in 2024 and more than double the 12 from the previous year.

Minister O’Callaghan emphasized the importance of privacy and care for these women, stating,

“Pregnant women in custody are provided with as much privacy as possible and are accommodated in single occupancy rooms.”

The Dochas Centre offers mothers and their infants single-occupancy double rooms, while Limerick Women’s Prison utilizes ‘independent style apartments’ for mothers and babies, albeit without a dedicated building for this purpose.

The Minister has also announced that tailored risk assessments are in place to ensure the health and safety of pregnant women and their newborns. This includes ongoing collaborations with health services to provide adequate maternity care, comparable to that available to women outside of prison.

Looking ahead, the Irish Prison Service is working with a multi-agency group to update their Mother and Baby Policy, aimed at improving care and support for mothers in custody. Minister O’Callaghan noted,

“The level of maternity care and supports provided to women in custody is comparable to that available to women in the community.”

This developing situation raises critical questions about the treatment and support of incarcerated women, and how the prison system is adapting to meet the needs of mothers and their children. As this story unfolds, further developments are expected regarding the policies and conditions surrounding pregnant women in Irish prisons.

Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent issue as it continues to develop.