Prison stabbing suspect ‘cleared’ for kitchen duty

The suspect in the fatal stabbing of a “model inmate” at Cork Prison was cleared for kitchen duty despite a history of violent knife crime.

The suspect — a man in his early 30s who is on remand charged with violent robbery — passed internal Irish Prison Service checks for inclusion on an “enhanced regime” which confers privileges on prisoners, including clearance for much sought-after kitchen duty.

Sources said he had been of good behaviour for the past two months.