Prison officer breaks down as she recalls savage attack

A woman prison officer lost consciousness during a savage attack by a woman in Limerick prison and said she would not have survived, but for the intervention of colleagues.

Prison officer Trish Colmen broke down at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday when she recalled the life-changing attack by Cork prisoner, Sarah Sinnott, on Apr 6, 2011.

She and colleague Samantha Conway were bitten on the arms by Sinnott.

Assistant chief officer Michael Kane received hand injuries when kicked by Sinnott in the attack.

Officers were called to Sinnott’s cell at 3pm when she started to smash up furniture. They tried to persuade her to take medication she had earlier refused.

As Mr Kane sat down to chat to Sinnott, she launched a ferocious attack. She grabbed Ms Coleman by the hair, pulling her into her chest. She then sank her teeth into Ms Coleman’s arm.

Garda Ivan Hannify said as the struggle ensued Sinnott then bit Ms Conway and kicked and injured Mr Kane.

Ms Coleman lost consciousness and had to be dragged from the cell by colleagues.

Sinnott, aged 21, with an address at Simon Community Cork, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to all three officers.

In a victim impact statement to the court, Ms Coleman broke down when she recalled the ferocity of the attack, which has left her unable to work since.

Ms Coleman said: “I became unconscious. If it weren’t for the quick actions of my colleagues I believe I would not have survived.”

She was in constant pain since the attack.

She said: “I don’t sleep properly and my life has changed completely. I am on prescribed pain killers and anti-depressants. I no longer socialise, or do any of the things I used to do.”

A psychiatric report handed into court by defence counsel Brian Leahy said Sinnott did not suffer from a mental illness, but was emotionally unstable and incapable of living alone or independently.

Judge Carroll Moran said prison officers, like the gardaí, have to be protected by the courts.

But in imposing sentence he had to take into account the direction of the DPP that the case could have been dealt with summarily in the District Court, where the maximum sentence is 12 months, on a plea of guilty.

He imposed a three-year sentence, suspending the final two years.