Dispute over gang numbers in prisons

Prison officers and management disagree about the number of gangs operating in the prison system. Staff claim there are 30 in Mountjoy alone, while the prison service says the number is 10 across all facilities.

Prison officers say they are struggling to keep the gang groupings separated and to prevent inter-gang assaults, as well as prevent ‘hits’ on the outside being ordered from inside.

Gang members arrested by gardaí and convicted are resuming their activities in prison and even hiring ‘contractors’ to carry out work for them, the general-secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) said.