Prison officer attacked

A PRISONER being transferred from Cork to Dublin attempted to take a female prison officer hostage yesterday.

The male prisoner from Dublin was sitting behind the prison officer in a prison bus and managed to wrap his handcuffs around her neck. It’s understood that he was chained to an officer beside him but the chain was of sufficient length to allow him move forward and tighten his handcuffs around her neck.

The inmate, in his 20s, then tried to incite the other eight prisoners to join him in taking her hostage so they could escape. He was, however, overcome by other officers who restrained him.

Gardaí were called to the scene after the attack and a number of officers came on board the bus while outriders escorted the vehicle to its destination.

The bus was travelling from Cork Prison to Cloverhill Prison where this prisoner was due at Cloverhill Courthouse later this week. The incident happened after 1pm at Johnstown in Co Kildare.

Eleven prison officers were travelling in the van.

Sources at the prison said that the woman was badly shaken by the incident. The woman, in her late 20s, was taken to the medical unit at Cloverhill prison where she was treated for her injuries.

The Irish Prison Officers Association (IPOA) said they would the Prison Services meet later this week to review security during prison transfers.