Jail attacks: staff call for safety plan

PRISON officers want a complete review of staff security at Cork Prison after another serious assault on one of their members.

A prisoner who was wearing a large American college-style ring struck an assistant prison officer in the face, knocking out two teeth, displacing two others and fracturing his jaw.

The attack on Monday afternoon brought to 10 the number of prison officers who have been injured in attacks at the jail in recent weeks.

In June, a total of six prison officers were injured — two seriously — in an assault by a prisoner.

He head-butted a male officer and knocked him unconscious. The officer required three stitches to a scalp wound.

The prisoner, who was already serving a sentence for assault causing harm to two other officers from Limerick Prison, then struck a female officer with what is believed to be a perspex jug, dislocating her finger.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) is expected to meet with prison management within the next few days following this latest attack.

POA deputy general secretary Eugene Dennehy said the association has serious concerns following the spate of assaults.

“We are looking for review of all arrangements, including the issue of how items like a ring like this can be worn by a prisoner,” he said. “We will also be looking at security arrangements around how prisoners are transferred from one area to another within the jail.”

The latest assault happened after prison staff spotted a visitor trying to pass contraband during a visiting session. Following protocol, they stepped in and terminated the visiting session.

The prisoner was being escorted from the visiting area to the exercise yard when he became abusive.

The prisoner involved was serving a two-year sentence for robbery and was due for release in September. He has now been moved to the punishment wing.

Gardaí are investigating the incident.

Prisoner officers moved swiftly to remove rings from other prisoners.