Maynooth Professor Calls For Alternatives To Prison For Pregnant Women Amid Record Numbers

Monday, 30 December 2024 11:28

By Martin Osborne

Dr. Lynsey Black from Maynooth University said the conditions pregnant women find themselves in are far from ideal.

Alternatives to prison should be considered for pregnant women, according to a Maynooth Professor.

Her comments follow reports that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) is facing record numbers of pregnant women in custody, with 29 cases reported this year, including four who gave birth while serving a prison sentence.

Of these, 24 were held in the Dóchas Centre at Mountjoy Prison, and five in Limerick Prison.

Since 2017, 152 women have been imprisoned while pregnant.

Dr. Lynsey Black from Maynooth University said the conditions pregnant women find themselves in are far from ideal.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, she said: "They're in their room for the night with the baby. It's a problem that's a direct consequence of the overcrowding and complete lack of space. Being locked back into your room at night with your newborn and not being able to leave is not ideal. It's an ongoing issue that the IPS are not directly in control of because they're accepting increasing numbers of women from the court."

She added: "Best practice should be that a woman who is pregnant should only be going into prison in the most compelling circumstances where there is no alternative."

More from Local News

Watch: Horse Charged At Gardai During Citywest Clashes Making Strong Recovery After Emergency Care

He's been named Ciarán.
New Osberstown Cottage Near Naas Offers Kildare Women A Pathway From Emergency Housing To Stability

Osberstown Cottage, near Naas, will provide short-term accommodation for up to five women at a time. It’s designed to help residents move from emergency settings towards secure, permanent homes.
Water Supply Issues In Kildare Town To Persist Until At Least Midnight

Traffic management remains in place at the site.
Final Works Underway On Barrow Blueway, Council Confirms

Waterways Ireland crews are currently installing wayfinding signage along the route, a job due to finish early next year.
After Months Of Serious Collisions And Traffic Gridlock, M7/M9 Junction Review Almost Ready

The junction is considered one of the worst bottlenecks for Kildare commuters heading towards Dublin - and regularly turns into a "car park" when there’s even a minor collision.
Junior Minister Phones Kildare Parents After Kfm Report As ASD Crisis Raised In Dáil

The Minister contacted Harry Gray’s parents after the family told Kfm News and Kildare Today that they were prepared to travel to Kanturk in West Cork to seek answers in person.
Bank Of Ireland To Launch New 'Downsizing' Loans In The New Year

Audio

It's hoped the loans will help bring more large family homes on to the market.
Tusla CEO Apologises For Term Used After Alleged Assault Of 10-Year-Old In Citywest

Kate Duggan told an Oireachtas committee today that Tusla regrets the wording of an official statement issued after the incident - a statement which said the child had “absconded” while on a trip with staff in Dublin city centre.