Jail bodyguards for Limerick

ARMED gardaí have been placed on standby to be deployed against criminals suspected of intimidating prison officers and members of the legal profession.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy ordered the Emergency Response Unit to be ready for deployment in Limerick.

The move follows a meeting between the Commissioner and prison officer representatives. Officers in Limerick, who last week voted to strike over health and safety issues, have been the targets of intimidation.