Loughan House gets glowing report

Loughan House remains an 'extremely valuable and worthwhile cog in the Irish Prison system’, a recently published report has found.
On Friday, the Department of Justice published their inspectors’ reports into every prison in Ireland with the Bawnboy detention centre receiving a glowing review.
'Loughan House remains a transfer Place of Detention, it received precisely 199 offenders on transfer for various committal institutions around the country,’ reads the report.
'Generally there was good compliance with period of temporary release, while there were four absconders in 2015.
'It serves as an important motivational tool for those offenders who have been passed suitable for transfer and for those who aspire to gain approval for a transfer to an open centre. It works as an incentive for good behaviour and for offenders to take responsibility for their actions.
'Offenders get an addition amount of freedom in Loughan and this in itself prepares offenders for resocialisation to their local community area. It is evident that there is a courteous and helpful relationship between officer and offender and we feel this relationship is what an open centres foundations are built on,’ it found.
The inspectors praised the 'very good condition of the grounds and environs of Loughan House and complimented everyone for their work in this regard’.
The Kitchen continues to deliver to a high standard and employs 12-15 inmates on a rotational basis providing an opportunity for prisoners to learn the art of catering.
The staff in the Education Unit and Work Training Workshops show a great interest in the prisoners and the teams are proactive in meeting the prisoner’s needs. The library is well stocked.
'There is praise for the good work of the probation, addiction counselling and chaplaincy services. The committee note that there is no night nurse cover and acknowledge that the Healthcare Department is an area that has been affected by cuts down the years. The Committee refer to the charitable work undertaken by inmates in conjunction with Bóthar and the Rotary Clubs - Bikes for Africa.
'Later in 2016 there will be a ceremony in Loughan House to celebrate the 2000th bike to be refurbished,’ it said.