Soaring attacks cost €2m in compo

A RECORD 100 serious assaults were reported by prison officers last year and over €2m was paid out in compensation, it emerged yesterday.

An average of nearly 30,000 has been paid out by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board over the last five years to officers who suffered injuries inside Ireland’s jails.

A leading member of the Prison Officers’ Association said the level of violence in prisons mirrors the increasing public order problems on the outside.