13 injured by CS gas as prisoner tries to flee hospital

THIRTEEN people, including six patients, were last night being treated for exposure to highly toxic CS gas after a botched escape attempt by a prisoner who was receiving medical care at Tallaght Hospital.

The man who sprayed the A&E department of the Dublin hospital with the gas was a 60-year old Belgian on remand at Clover Hill prison on drugs smuggling charges.

Gardaí said the man was taken by prison officers to the hospital A&E department yesterday afternoon having complained of severe chest pains. On arrival at the A&E unit the man demanded that he be allowed have a shower. Shortly afterwards he produced the canister of gas which he sprayed at three prison officers who were escorted him.

Two of the officers received injuries as a result of exposure to the gas which immediately affects the eyes and respiratory tract.

Six patients and five visitors to the hospital were also sprayed with the gas which can cause breathing difficulties if inhaled.

The man was restrained by the prison officers and gardaí were called.

Tallaght hospital confirmed that the prison officers, six patients and five visitors were being treated for exposure to the gas. Other than the hospital patients, all were discharged last night after treatment for shock and exposure to gas.

The gardaí and the Prison Service have begun separate investigations to determine how the inmate got and concealed the gas canister.

Meanwhile, in an ongoing row, prison doctors have rejected an offer to increase the pay of those working full-time from 64,000 to 95,000 and a pro-rata rise for part-time doctors.

Only two of its affected members were full-time prison doctors, said an IMO spokesperson. The other 21 doctors operated part-time. He described the offer as inadequate, pointing out there had been a turnover of 50% of prison doctors in the last four years.

Fine Gael health spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell said, “to the best of my knowledge this is not something you can pick up at the local supermarket.

“Normally, only the security forces have access to a product such as this, and that it came into the possession of a prisoner would suggest a serious security lapse. Measures, which ensure the primacy of the safety of hospital personnel and patients must be put in place in cases where prisoners are escorted for treatment at the A&E departments,” she said.