Prisoner 29630 and prisoner 29631 expected to work in prison kitchen

THE two men jailed for their part in the fracas that led to the death of Brian Murphy are expected to be put to work in the kitchen of the Midlands Prison.

Dermot Laide and Sean Mackey woke yesterday after their first night behind bars after being transferred from Mountjoy in Dublin to the Portlaoise jail.

Prisoners 29630, Laide, and 29631, Mackey, spent their first full day in prison being eased in to the routine. They also met the governor and received a medical examination.

Laide was found guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder. He has been sentenced to four years for manslaughter and two years for violent disorder. Mackey received a two-year sentence for violent disorder. Each will be granted 25% remissions of the sentences which means Laide will serve three years and Mackey 18 months.

They could be transferred to Loughan House open prison in Cavan within 12 months. The two men are being held in the separation unit of the 540-bed Midlands Prison. This is where trustees inmates considered trustworthy and drug-free are held.

The unit is separate from the main block of the prison, where most inmates are held. Sex offenders transferred from the Curragh to the Midlands a number of weeks ago are housed in one wing of the main block, segregated from all others.

It is expected the pair will remain in the separation block for a number of days. It will be up to the prison authorities to decide whether they will be moved to one of the main wings. Inmates in the Midlands have their own cells, with television. A relatively new building, facilities are much better than Mountjoy prison.

Laide and Mackey kept a brave face when they arrived at the Midlands. Despite entering jail for the first time, they did not appear "overawed and particularly perturbed" when they arrived at 7pm on Monday, according to sources. One source added: "I think it's intended they will work in the kitchen and remain with the trustees. It's not special treatment. A lot of people who come in for the first time who are not going to give any bother would be assigned to the kitchen."