Prisoner uses toilet brush in attack

Michael Brennan

The 35-year-old from Tipperary is serving a life sentence in the Midlands prison.

He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Portlaoise General Hospital at 5.30pm on Wednesday night with a three-man escort for treatment.

He had to be taken back to the prison until 8pm, when the hospital were ready to treat him.

A prison service spokesman said he asked to use the toilet facilities, which were then checked by the prison staff.

“He went in and re-emerged with a toilet handbrush which had been sharpened. It was obviously an escape attempt.”

He said the prison officers successfully prevented the man from escaping but one received a number of blows in the incident.

“The preliminary information we have is that the officer did not receive any puncture wounds.”

The Midlands Prison governor is taking disciplinary action against the prisoner, which could include confinement to his cell and the withdrawal of privileges such as access to phone calls.

The same prisoner had slashed another inmate with an implement last Sunday, which left him in need of 14 stitches. The spokesman said gardaí were investigating both incidents.