Transfer of inmates as part of security review

SOME of Limerick’s top criminals involved in an ongoing feud in the city have been transferred from Limerick Prison to Cork Prison as part of a major security review.

Following heightened tensions among prisoners aligned to various gangs in Limerick, the authorities received information that a revenge attack was being planned, so up to six well-known crime figures were transferred to Cork under heavy armed garda escort.

It emerged yesterday that prisoners arriving at Limerick Prison are carefully screened to ensure that members of the three main gangs in the city are kept separate.

The gangs are segregated in different wings and use separate exercise yards.

“There is always the fear that one gang will try and infiltrate another gang to gather information or to carry out an attack.

“You certainly do not want to have members of rival gangs in close proximity to each other,” said a garda source.

Prisoners in Limerick are no longer allowed to use razor blades and have to use electric razors.

Eighteen months ago, there was a serious assault outside the prison walls in Mulgrave Street.

A man who had been visiting a relative was attacked by another man who had arrived for a visit. He received serious head wounds during the vicious assault after being struck with a bottle.