Prison service under fire after 5 officers hospitalised

THE prison service has been criticised for not doing enough to protect prison officers after two incidents in Mountjoy and Castlerea prisons yesterday left a prisoner seriously injured and five prison officers in need of hospital treatment.

At Mountjoy, a prisoner suffered serious stab wounds and a number of others suffered superficial injuries after a row broke out in the B-wing of the prison at 11am.

Prison officers intervened quickly and while bringing the incident under control, four sustained injuries including a broken arm and a head wound.