'Drugs grab' prisoners attack prison officers

Two prison officers were in hospital tonight after being attacked by inmates suspected of trying to smuggle drugs into a Dublin jail.

The officers, a man and a woman, were beaten by inmates at Clover Hill prison as they tried to retrieve a package thrown over the wall into the prison yard.

The female officer was left unconscious after going to the aid of her colleague who was set upon and hit around the face when he clashed with prisoners trying to grab hold of the parcel the size of a cigarette packet.

Both were taken to Tallaght hospital for treatment and were said to be badly shaken.

Four inmates involved in the attack have been remanded in a secure area.

Deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, Eugene Dennehy, described the incident as “horrific” and called for action from the Prison Service.

He said: “This was a horrific incident and highlights the dangerous job that prison officers do.

“We are extremely concerned about the increasing number of assaults on our staff and it is about time the management of the Prison Service seriously looked at this issue.

“Violence like this cannot be allowed to continue.”

A chief officer was assaulted at Clover Hill in November during an incident when a package was thrown into the yard.

Today’s incident is the third time drugs have been thrown over the wall at the jail in the last two months.

Prison Service spokesman Jim Mitchell said structural work was in progress at Clover Hill with a view to covering all of the yards with netting.

“We have listened to the views of our staff and are responding to their requests by constructing the net roofing,” he said.

“The safety of our staff is paramount but it is very difficult to guarantee 100% accuracy all the time.”

He said the inmates involved in the attack could lose their privileges and visiting rights.