Prison officer stabbed by inmate

A PRISON officer is recovering after a vicious stabbing incident in Castlerea Prison yesterday.

The officer, a gymnasium instructor, suffered several slash wounds to the head and face in what the Prisoner Officers Association (POA) said was “a totally unprovoked attack”.

The injured officer, who received a number of stitches, was discharged from Galway University Hospital last evening. He is to receive further treatment today.

The Prison Service’s spokesman Jim Mitchell said a makeshift instrument was used to attack the officer but POA sources said the weapon involved was a Stanley blade.

The attacker, believed to be Scottish-born, was last night in an isolation unit. In addition to criminal charges likely to be brought by gardaí, the prisoner will also receive sanctions imposed by the Co Roscommon prison governor.

Mr Mitchell said prisoners were being escorted to a gymnasium when one of the inmates, who was inappropriately attired, was requested to return to his cell and kit out properly.

“It appears that, for no known reason, he launched at one of the officers. The prisoner had a makeshift weapon and the officer was stabbed in the face and head.

“The officer was admitted to hospital and the prisoner was immediately isolated. Gardaí were also called.”