Prison protest over claims killer sexually harassed officer
Joseph ‘Cotton Eye’ Delaney had to be moved from Castlerea Prison after the officer accused him of harassing her.
But Delaney, 57, is said to have continued his harassment by sending a sexually suggestive letter to the officer from his new prison.
The alleged harassment is part of the reason for a protest today at the Roscommon jail.
Prison insiders claim management failed to act quickly enough after the allegations were made and allowed an uncensored letter from Delaney get through to the officer.
But they are also protesting more generally, as a vote of no confidence in prison management.
They claim members have been subjected to bullying and harassment.
The stoppage, between 2pm and 3pm, is the first action by prison officers anywhere in the State in 15 years. There was an all-out strike in 1988.
Delaney was convicted in 1999 of the murder of Mark Dwyer, 23, in 1996.
Handing down a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, the judge said it was an “evil and foul” murder of “unspeakable savagery”.
Delaney was also convicted of falsely imprisoning Mr Dwyer and detaining him against his will and received 15 years.
The Prison Officers’ Association cannot comment on individual cases but representative Gerry Wilson said the organisation was seriously concerned about management’s approach to staff.
He said there was overwhelming support for the walkout among staff and the POA is, in turn, supporting them.
Minimum cover will be maintained at the prison, which also houses many Provisional IRA inmates, including those jailed for the manslaughter of Garda Jerry McCabe.
Mr Wilson said staff have a range of grievances with management and morale among the members was extremely low. The association claims staff have attempted to raise these concerns with management but had made little progress.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
