Number of 'life' prisoners doubles
The number of Irish prisoners serving life sentences has reportedly more than doubled in the past eight years.
Reports this morning said around 205 inmates are serving life terms in Irish jails, compared to just 98 in 1998.
The increase is being put down to rising levels of gun crime, as well as Justice Minister Michael McDowell and the Parole Board's policy of ensuring people jailed for life serve a minimum of 15 years, compared to the 10 or 12 years they would previously have expected to serve.
