Gardaí to examine actions to combat drug supply in prison after petrol bomb attack

The attack took place overnight on Monday, during which a front window was smashed and a petrol bomb thrown in, but no injuries were sustained

The Garda investigation team, led by a senior investigating officer, is consulting with both the Irish Prison Service and specialist units in Garda HQ.

Gardaí are to examine all recent activity taken by the intelligence unit in a Dublin prison to combat drug supply and other criminality, after a petrol bomb attack on the home of a prison officer.

While it is understood that investigators have “nothing concrete” yet to identify possible suspects, they believe the work of the officer in the unit “may have upset” dangerous criminal figures.

The officer is attached to the Operational Support Group, which operates in all closed prisons and is tasked with combating criminal activity — including the supply of drugs and other contraband into prison and their internal distribution.

The Garda investigation team, led by a senior investigating officer, is consulting with both the Irish Prison Service and specialist units in Garda HQ to gather any intelligence that might assist in their inquiries.

“We will look at everything that has happened in the prison,” one security source said.

The officer was very proactive in his job and may have upset a number of criminals

A number of security sources commented on the level of surveillance work the gang would have carried out to establish where the officer lived.

The attack took place overnight on Monday, during which a front window was smashed and a petrol bomb thrown in.

The device did not cause extensive damage and was quickly extinguished. It is understood the officer and his wife were inside at the time, but no injuries were sustained.

'Linked to his work'

The Prison Officers’ Association said it was a very serious incident, adding that it could very easily have caused injury or death.

“We believe it is linked to his work,” the association's deputy general secretary, Gabriel Keaveny, said.

“Anything could have happened. It could have burned down the house and, genuinely, this could have led to loss of life if the house had gone up in flames.” 

He said they sought a meeting with the Irish Prison Service's director general, Caron McCaffrey. It is understood the association was not satisfied with how the meeting went, and has sought a meeting with Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

The association has previously highlighted concerns at the scale of organised drug smuggling into prisons

This includes the use of drones to smuggle drugs in. In some cases, a large basketball-type container is fastened to a long wire attached to a drone. Flammable liquid is put on the ball, which is set alight.

It is then flown over prison yards and burns through security nets. The contents — often drugs valued up to €70,000 — drop down to the yard and are picked up by inmates.

Efforts by operational support groups and general prison officers to thwart or intercept drugs creates significant tensions with drug dealers in prisons.

Gardaí will also investigate if there are any other reasons why the officer was targeted, and will talk to his colleagues and other prison staff.