Mountjoy prison officers to vote on industrial action

The Prison Officers Association has said it was surprised and disappointed that a meeting with the Irish Prison Service to discuss a dispute over staffing levels at Mountjoy was cancelled.

Prison Officers staged a temporary walkout earlier this week after a prisoner - Leroy Dumbrell - was transferred to Mountjoy's separation unit from Castlrea Prison.

They are to vote on industrial action over the coming days.

The governor of Mountjoy was expected to attend the meeting which was to take place on Friday morning.

The POA said it was important that the meeting went ahead as planned "so that the serious safety issues at the prison can be discussed and effectively resolved".