Mountcharles woman Amanda O’Donnell will be appearing in a new documentary series on life in Ireland’s largest female prison.

A Prison Officer for over 16 years, Amanda approaches her work with empathy.

In a brand-new three-part documentary beginning on Virgin Media today (Monday), Amanda will share an insight into her work with female offenders, who she says should all be treated equally.

“They are normal people with normal needs. We just have to do our best for them,” says Amanda in Women Locked Up: Inside the Dóchas.

Filmed over the course of seven months, with support from Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound and Vision funding scheme, this three-part docuseries tells the human story on both sides of the prison door, from staff and prisoners.

The programme was filmed over seven months with exclusive access to Dublin’s Dóchas Centre.

This series captures first-hand the challenges involved in running a prison, from the prison school to music classes, from the health services to academic graduations. All this, along with the ever-present issues of overcrowding and a multitude of complex prisoner needs, is captured on camera.

‘Women Locked Up: Inside The Dóchas’ airs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9pm on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play.

Watch a preview here: