Prisoners monitored in hospital after suspected overdose
GoogleTen prisoners have been monitored overnight in hospital after suspected overdoses at Portlaoise Prison.
The prisoners were brought to the Midlands Regional Hospital, County Laois, on Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday morning, BBC News NI was told that one prisoner remains critically ill and the remaining nine prisoners are described as being in a serious but stable condition.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) said it is working closely with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Getty ImagesThe IPS issued an urgent drug alert to all prisons in July following a detection of the drug nitazene, which resulted in a fatal overdose.
In a statement, the IPS said it had secured extra naloxone kits.
“Extra vigilance is being taken across the prison estate” and the IPS said it had commenced an “information campaign for prisoners around the dangers of consuming contraband”.
The prison service has also “increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis”.
