Mountjoy inmates restore bicycles donated for Ukrainian refugees

A group of prisoners in Mountjoy Prison have rolled up their sleeves to help an initiative to restore unwanted bicycles to be gifted to Ukrainian refugees.
The Good Bike Project, the brainchild of Paul McQuaid, former champion cyclist and owner of River Cycles in Dublin city centre, was set up when Ukrainians started arriving here in February last year after Russia invaded their home country.

The Irish Red Cross noticed transport was a major issue for many Ukrainian adults and children who were either looking for work or integrating into schools, especially in rural areas.

The charity wanted to help Mr McQuaid with his Good Bike Project and knew he needed financing and some handy mechanics.

It called upon contacts in the Irish Prison Service to see if they could help, and now with funds donated from the public being used to buy spare parts, a group of prisoners have turned part of the Training Unit in Mountjoy into a thriving bicycle workshop.