Inmates launch dirty protest over rules

FAECES and urine were dumped over the landings of the State's largest prison yesterday as inmates protested new regulations that authorities claim are aimed at cutting down drug-smuggling into the jail.

Dozens of prisoners in Mountjoy’s B wing staged the protest yesterday after prison authorities introduced the new rules. Inmates must nominate six adult visitors who must provide photographic identification before being allowed into the Dublin jail.

Prison officials said it was a co-ordinated protest. At 9.20am, some of the 107 prisoners on the wing began throwing the full chamber pots over the railings of three landings.

Management immediately ordered a lock-down for the inmates on B Wing but a spokesman for the prison service said the other two wings were not affected by the protest and prisoners went about their normal routine, such as work detail and court appearances.

The new regulations were brought in last week in an attempt to stop drug-users taking advantage of clean or vulnerable inmates. Known drug users are routinely searched by staff when returning from visits.

Prison officials said some users would force vulnerable non-addicts to add to their visitor list names - mostly fictitious - of the drug user’s choosing. The ‘visitor’, a friend or relative of the user, would then pass on the drugs to the clean inmate.

Mountjoy governor John Lonergan said the scheme was introduced to reduce the amount of drugs being smuggled into the prison. Mr Lonergan said he believed yesterday morning’s protests were in direct response to the new regulations. He said it was a generally peaceful protest.

The Prison Officers Association, following meetings with Mountjoy staff, wants management to review the new regulations. Spokesman Gerry Wilson, while welcoming any initiative that helps reduce the amount of drugs coming into the prison, said the regulations were introduced arbitrarily. He claimed staff needed to be trained in the new procedures and that prisoners and their visitors should have been given advance notice.

Mountjoy insiders said it was a nasty experience for the guards who had to take cover as the chamber pots, excrement and urine came flying over the landings towards them.

Prison staff remained on high alert last night.

Eleven inmates were identified as culprits by prison staff. But it is believed many more took part.

“They could not identify all of them because the officers were too busy taking cover from the flying chamber pots,” said one insider.