Family communication toolkit

Contacting Mountjoy Prison

A step-by-step guide for families using the Irelandprison system. Everything below is aggregated from public sources; the prison's own official channels are linked where available.

Data is aggregated from public sources and may be incomplete or out of date. Always verify with primary sources before acting on any figure. See data sources.

Send mail to Ireland

Address block. Copy and paste into your envelope or shipping label.

Prisoner Full Name + Prisoner Number
Mountjoy Prison
North Circular Road
Dublin
Ireland

Country-wide mail rules

· All non-privileged mail is opened and read.
· Cash not accepted by post — deposit at the visitor's centre or via prisoner-account transfer.
· Books, magazines and paper cards allowed; laminated photos and stickers prohibited.

Send money (EUR (€))

Prisoner Money Deposit — Irish Prison Service
Cash or card at each prison's visitor centre; the prison publishes an EFT reference for online transfers.

Phone calls

· Inmate-initiated PIN phones to pre-approved numbers; 6 min per call typical.
· All calls recorded except calls to the inmate's solicitor.

Visiting

Book a visit: Book a visit — Irish Prison Service

Phone the individual prison's visit line at least 24 hours ahead; children visits arranged with the prison chaplain / Bedford Row Family Project.

Country-wide visiting rules

· Government photo ID required (passport, driving licence, PSC).
· Screened visits are the default at Mountjoy, Cloverhill etc.; box visits for higher-security regimes.
· Children require a parent/guardian.
· Belongings deposited on arrival — no phones, no food.

First-visit checklist

Photo ID
Visit confirmation reference
Coins for the visitor-centre locker
No phone in the visit room

Legal aid

Legal Aid Board

Helpful to know

· Bedford Row Family Project (bedfordrow.ie) supports families of prisoners across Ireland.
· The Office of the Inspector of Prisons (oip.ie) receives confidential complaints about conditions.

Important

This toolkit aggregates publicly available guidance. Rules vary by facility and change over time — always confirm with the prison's official contact channels before sending mail, money, or attempting a visit.