Prison visits return to normal today after almost three years of Covid restrictions., with the Irish Prison Service (IPS) warning of the dangers of trying to smuggle in contraband.
It said prison authorities had thwarted almost 2,500 attempted drug deliveries to prisoners around the country so far this year and seized around 1,500 mobile phones.
The prison service is appealing to people to use its confidential helpline to alert authorities if they are being pressurised to bring in contraband during their visits.
During the pandemic, the visiting regime was restricted but from today prisoners can have a weekly in-person visit.
Mountjoy Prison in Dublin is expecting to see around 1,000 visitors a week over the Christmas period.
Mountjoy Prison Operating Governor David Treacy said Christmas is a tough time of year for inmates with many turning to drugs to cope.
"It's a very sombre mood around the prison for obvious reasons," he said.
"And sometimes what we have seen over the years is people turn to drugs use to block out these emotions and unfortunately that's a common occurrence around Christmas morning."
There have been 1,292 drug seizures in prisons around the country so far this year and officers have intercepted 1,046 so-called 'throw overs'.
A 'throw over' is when drugs are thrown over an outside wall into the exercise yard in the prison.
The Operational Support Group (OSG) operates the security screening units at prisons to try to prevent contraband being smuggled in.
Assistant Chief Officer Gleeson said just over 120 people have been arrested trying to bring drugs and mobile phones into prisons around the country this year.
He said around 1,500 mobile phones have been seized, ranging in size from regular smart phones to very small devices, around the size of a 50c coin.
"There are a number of layers of security that we use," Mr Gleeson said.
"We have an x-ray machine, which everyone passes through visiting and put all their loose items similar, to an airport and they will pass through a metal detector and once they pass those two measures then they will be subject to rub down search or pat down search."
There are also two new ion scan machines, which test for traces of drugs and explosives and a specialised canine unit.
Anti-drone technology is now in place in some prisons to prevent drugs being delivered by that method.
Governor Tracey said some families are put under immense pressure to bring contraband in when visiting.
"Threats can be made in order for them to bring contraband through on visits to pay money, to pay off drug debts that are incurred in prison," he said.
Chief Officer Dillon, also with the OSG, said 300 makeshift weapons have been seized in prisons this year.
He said weapons can be manufactured from basically anything in the prison setting.
"You see weapons of various descriptions across the prison service, anything that can by sharpened basically, plastic, metal, glass, it can be filed down."
"You will see the likes of razor blades melted into handles of cutlery and other items, which can be used to seriously scar or maim or injure an prisoner."
Anti-drone technology is now in place in some prisons to prevent drugs being delivered by that method.
From today, weekly in person visits are resuming.
The Irish Prison Service is appealing to families or prisoners feeling pressure to smuggle in drugs or phones to contact a confidential helpline on 1800-855-717.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust has welcomed the reinstatement of weekly physical visits.
In 2020 and 2021, the IPRT identified a reduction of almost 80% in the number of children who physically visited an adult in prison.
In 2021, it pointed out that when visits recommenced in July that year, children were not always allowed to visit, and when they were, only a maximum of one child was permitted per visit.
This meant families with more than one child had to choose between their children, which the IPRT said was "extremely difficult" in circumstances where children may not have had any physical contact with their family member for a significant portion of the year.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust has described return to weekly physical prison visits just before Christmas as positive.
Executive Director Saoirse Brady said that while the suspension of physical visits was a necessary measure in response to the risks posed by Covid-19, families with a loved one in prison were subjected to restrictions longer than most others.
"Children, partners, and families having more opportunities to see their loved ones in prison before Christmas will likely have a hugely positive impact. Maintaining positive family contact has multiple benefits for the person in prison.", she said.
However, while there is capacity for prison visits to be booked online, the IPRT has pointed out that families without online access or facilities to make an online booking need to be considered.
It has called for sufficient resources to accept calls from families in those situations who wish to book prison visits.
Additional reporting Ailbhe Conneely
