GARDAÍ have launched an investigation into the deaths of two prisoners in the space of just ten days at a prison in Co. Laois.
The inmates, who were serving sentences at Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, have not been named by authorities.
The first prisoner died sometime between the evening of Sunday, January 27 and the following morning on Monday, January 28.
The second inmate was found dead in his cell this past Tuesday, February 5.
Suicide is suspected as the cause of death in both instances but investigations are ongoing, reports the Irish Examiner.
According to the paper, it is highly unusual for two deaths to occur in such a short period of time in a single jail.
A study by the Council of Europe found there were 47 suicides for every 100,000 inmates in Ireland between 2011 and 2014.
In 2013, there were just two suicides in Irish prisons throughout the entire year.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS), the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána are investigating.
