Nine prisoners transferred from Mountjoy following protest

NINE prisoners have been transferred from Mountjoy and a further 15 disciplined internally following a protest against new visiting arrangements.

Governor John Lonergan transferred the nine prisoners, including four identified as the ringleaders of last week’s protest, because prison officials believed there was a serious threat of further protests and violence.

Prisoners in B Wing emptied their full chamber pots over the landings in what was described as a co-ordinated protest. Prison officers on the floor below had to run for cover as excrement, urine and the pots were thrown over the landings.

More than 100 prisoners were placed on lockdown for the rest of the day following protest early last Monday morning.

But prison management decided to take further action against the inmates following an investigation. The nine were transferred to a number of different prisons, mostly in the Dublin area. All lost remission and evening recreation time.

The 15 who were dealt with internally lost evening recreation time, which allows free association inside the prison for more than two hours from 5.20pm. This is expected to last for 21 days.

New visiting arrangements, whereby an inmate has to list six people who must bring photographic identification before being allowed in, were introduced to combat drug smuggling, according to the prison service.

Vulnerable non-drug users were being pressured into taking visits from friends of addicts, who then passed on the narcotics.

The move has been welcomed by relatives of some inmates but condemned by others.

A protest by relatives was held outside the prison last week. One claimed not to have any photographic identification.

A Prison Service official said yesterday said there was no going back on the new arrangements. But officers in Mountjoy have complained the new rules were brought in with little consultation with either staff or inmates.