Two prisoners in the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise have died in the last ten days, the Irish Examiner reports.
According to the paper, suicide is the suspected cause of both deaths.
It is highly unusual to have two deaths in the same prison so close together.
A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service told the Irish Examiner that the two deaths will be investigated by the service, the inspector, and An Garda Síochána.
The news comes just a day after the first episode of Virgin Media’s documentary Ireland’s Biggest Prison – True Lives aired.
According to the Irish Examiner, the first death occurred sometime between the evening of January 27 and the following morning when the man’s body was discovered in his cell.
Prison sources told the paper that ‘the deceased was well-regarded by staff and presented no trouble. He was incarcerated after being convicted of a “one punch” offence that left his victim severely injured’.
The second man passed away on Tuesday of last week. The Examiner understands he was in protective custody which involves being locked up in a cell for 23 hours a day.
Sources in the prison told the paper he had asked the previous Friday to be put into protective custody because he felt his safety was under threat from a gang in another part of the prison.
The second episode of the Virgin Media documentary airs next Wednesday at 9pm.
SEE ALSO – A day spent inside the walls of the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise
