Young offenders’ prison is nation’s most violent jail

St Patrick’s Institution — the prison for young offenders — is the most violent jail in the State, with far more assaults than at adult prisons such as Mountjoy.

There were 367 assaults on prisoners by other inmates in St Patrick’s in 2011 — accounting for one third of all assaults in the prison system last year.

Figures supplied to the Irish Examiner also show there were 48 assaults on prison staff by inmates in the Dublin jail — accounting for 30% of such assaults.