Loughan House is a low security open detention centre in Blacklion, County Cavan

County Cavan

County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...

, Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. Built in 1953 as a noviciate for the White Fathers Missionary Congregation, it was purchased by the Department of Justice in 1972 to be converted to a prison

Prison

A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...

facility. Its current governor is Mr. Pat Kavanagh. It is run by the Irish Prison Service.

Accommodation

The Centre has an operational capacity of 160 adult male inmates who have been deemed suitable for residency in an open centre. It has a mix of single and shared rooms. All rooms are equipped with televisions.

Healthcare and Welfare Services

The centre houses a medical surgery with trained staff, which is available from 8 am to ? pm each day. Outside these hours, a doctor is available. Serious medical emergencies are dealt with at Sligo General Hospital. A visiting dentist is also available.

Psychiatrists are available on call, and a Probation and Welfare Service officer is on duty from Tuesday to Friday each week.

An alcohol education programme exists and is delivered to suitable offenders.

Prisoner facilities

Various Workshops are available in the centre, and operate on a voluntary basis. Computer facilities are provided to allow inmates to develop skills in that area. A gymnasium and volleyball alley are available for recreation.

Visits

Prisoners may be visited on any day of the year from 10am to 5pm. The visiting facilities are designed to be family friendly, and visitors can usually bring items to the centre to give to the inmates (once they have been examined to ensure that they do not contain any prohibited items such as drugs or alcohol).

External links

• Prisons - Loughan House