Court to rule on prisoner attack claim

A former prisoner at Wheatfield in West Dublin is suing the Governor and the State for damages arising out of an incident in which he claims a bucket of boiling water was thrown over him by a fellow inmate in 1999.

31-year-old Gary Breen of Hillgrove, Ballinteer, County Dublin is taking the action claiming the attack on him was deliberately and consciously allowed, a claim denied by the authorities.

Gary Breen was serving a 12 month term at the time for escaping from garda custody, later that year he pleaded guilty to slashing the throat of a man on the dart in 1998.

On the evening in question he said he was watching television in the recreation room, he said that earlier a prison officer had told him to watch his back and that he was in for a big surprise.

He claimed the inmate poured a bucket of boiling water with bleach and sugar in it over him and proceeded to kick him.

The court heard Mr Breen was hospitalised for a month after the attack and had to receive skin grafts.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan will rule on the matter later on Friday morning.