100 attacks yearly as ‘sheer violence’ inflicted on unprotected prison officers

State authorities estimate there will be more than 100 assaults by prisoners on staff this year, the Oireachtas justice committee heard yesterday.

The Prison Officers’ Association told the committee that an analysis conducted by the State Claims Agency projected there would be an estimated 107 assaults by prisoners on prison officers in 2017.

The agency based the figure on physical assaults between 2011 and 2015, when there were 475 cases.