15 January 2004: An astonishing attack by a Fianna Fail councillor in Kildare on one of her party coalition partner's key ministers in Government says the Minister for Justice is using 'bully tactics' in closing the Curragh Prison.

The prison is to close on the 19th of January and the 65 staff are to be deployed to other prisons, notably Portlaoise.

Cllr Fiona O’ Loughlin has termed the move as 'nonsensical and financially illogical' and says that as prisons go, the Curragh was 'the most cost effective secure prison in the country'.

Cllr O'Loughlin added that as it the prison owned by the Department of Defence, the Department of Justice cannot realise capital gain, thereby negating one of the reasons for the closure

“The Minister cites cutting overtime bills as the reason for the decision to close. However just 10 per cent of officers work the overtime needed to earn figures that would put them in the high bracket league

Cllr O’Loughlin said the closure would have a serious social effect on the lives of Prison Officers and that of their families.

"It will also have repercussions for the business community of the Curragh and Newbridge, as local suppliers will lose out. It is a bad decision and a bad start to 2004 for several Newbridge residents."