Further to my posting yesterday about Hewell Grange, I now bring you details of conditions in another of our places of incarceration for offenders.
INMATE BOASTS OF 'LUXURY LIFE' IN PRISON
A man jailed for repeatedly stabbing his wife has said he is enjoying a luxury life in prison and boasted that he was "better off inside".
Donal Kelleher, 37, an inmate at HMP Cardiff, said that his en suite accommodation was "outstanding" and revealed that he was paid £10 a week - to study for a maths GCSE - which he spends on cigarettes, chocolate and "other luxury goods".
A prison officer who has worked at Cardiff for 15 years said last week that inmates were simply sitting in their cells watching snooker on television or playing computer games.
He added that a new health care centre put local hospitals "to shame" and made it easier to see a dentist than on the "outside".
Glyn Travis, the assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, said the latest disclosure confirmed his fears and that "we need to address the root of what prisons are all about".
Kelleher, a former Welsh Guard, stabbed his wife Leanne seven times in the chest and back after she told him she was leaving him. He was jailed in 2005.
But writing to a local newspaper from prison, he said: "I am better off in here. I could only imagine how cold it was this winter living on the streets."
He added: "May I just say that the food and accomadation (sic) is of outstanding quality here.
"We have coulour (sic) TVs, on sweet (sic) facilities, everything is provided for us eg toiletries, laundry.
"The staff are very friendly and helpful."
He stated that the education department at Cardiff was of a "very high standard". He said: "I'm currently doing a GCSE grade in maths which I am paid ten pound a week to achieve which I can spend on tobbacco (sic), chocolate and other luxury goods," he said.
A prison officer who did not want to be named, said the prison's new £10 million health care facility was "out of the world".
He added: "I've seen it and it would put any community hospital to shame.
"It will have an X-ray machine, dental facilities and can bed up to 16 of the prisoners at a time."
David Davies, the Conservative MP for Monmouth in South Wales, visited the prison last year.
He said: "I saw prisoners sitting in their cells watching television and playing computer games.
"It seems to be an unwritten rule if they are left alone to do whatever they want they won't cause any trouble.
"They have a right to be treated humanely but we have to remember they are in prison to be punished."
(Telegraph)
