Compulsory cocooning as result of the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health difficulties of the prisoners involved, a briefing document by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and Maynooth University has shown.
The document collates findings from journals from April which had been distributed to prisoners who were cocooning due to age or medical condition.
86 journals were sent to the cocooning prisoners in seven prisons by the Red Cross. 72 journals were returned with 49 written in.
The practice of compulsory cocooning ended on 29 June but those who wish to continue may do so voluntarily. Many of the issues documented by both male and female prisoners were being locked in cells for long hours, missing recreational and learning