Prison officers plan strikes over pay-cuts

PRISON officers are drawing up plans for a series of wildcat strikes if Justice Minister Michael McDowell cuts their €60m overtime bill.

Mr McDowell has given officers three months to agree a new deal, but warned that he will force through his own conditions if they fail to do so.

Prison officers earn, on average, more than €19,000 overtime per year, much more than any other public sector group.