Man jailed for assaulting two prison officers

A man who assaulted two prison officers leaving both with broken noses that required corrective surgery under general anaesthetic has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

John Coleman (aged 35) of Greenfort Gardens, Clondalkin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Dermot Donovan and Liam Hammersley causing them harm at Cloverhill Prison on November 26, 2005.

Coleman was on remand in the prison at the time and had 20 previous convictions which included assaulting a garda, robbery and drink driving.

Judge Patrick McCartan said that Coleman "had very determinedly assaulted these two innocent men who were going about their work" and described the accused as a man of "considerable violence" who had "an appalling record".

He noted that Coleman had four young children and he said it was "terribly sad" that his family are trying to make the "best of their lives despite their father".