Prisoners stage roof-top protest

THREE prisoners who staged a roof-top protest at a Dublin prison yesterday cut their way through new €600,000 netting using blades.

The three clambered on to the roof of St Patrick’s at about 3.30pm yesterday. However, staff persuaded the youths to end their dispute. After five hours, the matter was resolved without injury.

Four inmates initially attempted to get on to the roof but one was caught by prison officers.

The three protesters are Anthony Fermoyle, 20, who is serving three years for burglary and car theft; Eddie McCabe, 19, serving two years for car theft, and Stephen Guinan, 19, serving 13 months for robbery and possession of drugs.

They are all from the Crumlin area of south Dublin. They made no demands but spent much of the time on the roof cutting the net, designed to stop drugs being thrown into the prison. They caused major damage to the net. Prison insiders claimed the net was also designed to stop inmates getting on the roof.

Groups of people, including friends of the three, gathered by a canal close to the prison, which houses young offenders up to the age of 21. Packages were thrown to them.

Tension was high inside St Patrick’s and the adjoining Mountjoy complex. Prison officials feared the protest would spark more trouble.