Prison officers deny strikes planned

REPORTS of a Blue Flu being planned for Irish prisons this Christmas season have been vehemently denied by the prison officers’ union.

Last night, Mr Eugene Dennehy, deputy general secretary, Irish Prison Officers’ Association, said his members wanted to tackle the current staffing crisis without resorting to industrial action.

The row between prison officers and management of Irish prisons was not about overtime, but about the fact that officers were being expected to extend the normal working week and remain on call or ready for work during time off.