Local Governor to appear in new Portlaoise prison TV series

A local resident who works as the Governor of the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise is set to appear in a new documentary series on the facility which starts tonight (Wednesday). 

Kiltoom-based Ethel Gavin is one of the participants in the series ‘Inside Ireland’s Biggest Prison: True lives’ which airs on Virgin Media One at 9pm tonight. 

Ms Gavin was born in Leeds but moved with her family to Curramore, Kiltoom, when she was aged 14. She previously worked in Mountjoy prison and as Governor of Loughan House prison in Cavan.

In the four-part series, cameras follow both prisoners and prison staff as they go about daily life inside the prison walls. 

In tonight's opening episode, viewers will be introduced to Ms Gavin and the staff and inmates of the Midlands Prison. 

Prison Officer, Ciara McCarthy will introduce viewers to the B3 landing, the “independent living” landing, where the prisoners who have achieved the highest number of credits on the incentivised scheme live. 

The programme will show how prisoners earn these credits - at work, at school, in the gym - and also through their other pastimes, including painting and playing piano. 

Also on the B3 landing, the programme introduces us to David and Pedro, two prisoners from Colombia, who are currently serving seven years on charges of possessing cocaine. 

Cameras also follow “Rake”, the prison officer who is in charge of the tuck shop, and hear about his unique approach to running his little corner of the prison. 

Inside Ireland’s Biggest Prison: True Lives airs on Virgin Media One tonight (Wednesday) at 9pm.