Fr. Peter McVerry:

The sub-committee should consider seriously the idea of limiting the numbers in any particular prison. There should be a certain number that can go to Mountjoy or to Wheatfield or wherever. Judges contemplating sending anyone to prison should be obliged to find out if there is a place in the first instance and if not, they must be conscious that someone will be released. This actually happened in the juvenile detention system when Trinity House first opened. It had a certain number of places and a judge in the children's court who wished to send someone to Trinity House had to telephone to ascertain whether a place was available. If not, the judge was obliged to remand the case.