The Irish Penal Reform Trust says the death of a prisoner in custody underlines the need for single cell occupancy.

It comes after the Inspector of Prisons identified a number of inadequacies in how the Midlands Prison dealt with an inmate two years ago.

The 61-year-old, who was serving a four year sentence died from a heart attack believed to have been brought on by blunt force trauma to the head.

He had recently been moved into a shared cell with a prisoner who was later found to be distilling alcohol in his room.

The Inspector of Prisons today issued a set of recommendations following the death of the prisoner in the Midlands Prison in February 2013.

The recommendations include a single cell for all elderly and long term prisoners and a that when prisoners are being moved, the reasons must be clearly outlined.

The Inspector also says that the Irish Prison Service and Prison governors must be aware of their legal obligations to protect the health of prisoners.

The report outlines that all potential crime scenes must be properly and legally preserved, including all instances where criminality is suspected.

And it recommends that immediate internal investigations must be launched in all cases of serious incidents in prisons.

The Irish Prison Service has begun a cell share risk assessment pilot in the Midlands Prison in response to the Inspector's concerns.

Minister of Justice Frances Fitzgerald said of the report: "The death of any person in State custody must be thoroughly examined and I expect that the Irish Prison Service and indeed all the statutory agencies involved, will work hard to address the findings and recommendations in the Inspector’s reports."

“I have noted the Inspector’s concerns," she added.

"The Irish Prison Service has taken steps to address the Inspector’s concerns and a cell share risk assessment pilot has commenced in Midlands prison."