‘Attacks are now a regular feature of prison life’

THE gang warfare now rampant in Dublin is putting extra strain on prison resources as rival factions target each other, Mountjoy Prison governor John Lonergan has warned.

The flip side of Garda successes in putting gang members behind bars has increased tensions and led to an increase in very serious assaults.

“In the last two or three years, this issue has grown to huge proportions. The public have this perception that ‘once they’re in prison, what can they do?’ We have almost 500 men in here at any time and they have to get out for exercise and have to go for food and have to go for workshops. There could be 80 or 100 men walking around the yard for exercise.”