Six sentenced after Mountjoy Prison riot

Six men have been sentenced over a “violent protest” in Mountjoy Prison in which five prison officers were injured.

The court heard prison officers had to equip themselves with “riot gear” and over €142,000 worth of damage excluding labour was caused in the incident involving over 20 accused.

Judge Desmond Hogan described the happenings as a “violent protest over new search methods and security instigated by the prison authorities” which the inmates “took exception to”.

John Paul Kelly, Mark Dignam, Brian Ormonde, Micheal Ward, Edward Keogh, Paul O’ Reilly had all pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder at Mountjoy Prison on July 12, 2008.

Kelly (aged 25), of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, whose activities Judge Hogan was told should be regarded “in the higher category”, was sentenced to three years with the last 21 months suspended.

Dignam (aged 34), of Meath Place, Earl Street, Dublin 8, whose activities the judge said were “of a higher gravity” although “not regarded as a ringleader” was sentenced to three years with the last 24 months suspended.

Ormonde (aged 28), of Coolatree Road, Beaumont, Dublin 9, was sentenced to two years with the last 18 months suspended as the judge noted his involvement was at the lower end of the scale.

Similarly Ward (aged 21) of Bawlea Drive, Tallaght, was given two years with the last 18 months suspended for “involvement at the lower end of the scale”.

O’Reilly (aged 32) of Donomore Avenue, Tallaght, was also sentenced to two years with the last 18 months suspended after Judge Hogan said he had “minimal involvement”.

Keogh (aged 27) of Oliver Bond House, Dublin 8, was also sentenced to two years with the last 18 months suspended for “minimal involvement”.

The whole incident was captured on CCTV footage although efforts were made to damage the cameras and obscure their vision after paint was thrown at them.

Detective Garda Karl Murray told Mr Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that the incident in which there were over 20 accused, took place in a recreation area near workshops in the prison.

He told the court there was to be a sit-down protest over new searching procedures.

Det Gda Murray said a number of prisoners began asking the time more than usual and prison officers noticed a number of men coming in from the yard.

He said snooker balls were being thrown and two televisions were smashed.

Det Gda Murray said 70 to 80 prisoners congregated in the prison hall and they were asked to return to their cells and told if they left there no action would be taken towards them.

Snooker balls were thrown at head height which two prison officers narrowly avoided.

He said lengths of timber were being thrown out at officers, one of whom had his jaw dislocated and teeth broken and most suffered inhalation type injuries from the use of fire extinguishers against them.

He said staff equipped and suited themselves in “riot gear” including helmets and pads.

Mr Diarmaid McGuinness SC, defending Kelly, who was the first to plead, believed it was “to be a peaceful protest” but that changed.

Mr Sean Gillane SC, defending Dignam, told the court his client was of a step above a minimal level of involvement, suffered from addiction and while in prison had moved from being 80mls of methadone a day down to 40mls.

Mr James Dwyer BL, defending Ormonde, said his client suffered from cocaine use and was now serving a significant sentence under the misuse of drugs act.

Mr Paul Carroll BL, defending Ward, said that his client came from a travelling community background and started abusing drugs in his teenage years but has attempted to address his difficulties.

Mr Justin McQuade BL, defending O’ Reilly, said there was no evidence of violence used by him and “the high point of the prosecution’s case” was he was seen “standing beside a person throwing a snooker ball.”

Mr Phillipp Rahn BL, defending Keogh, asked the judge to take into account he had only been in prison three weeks but said he should not have gotten involved and accepts this.