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Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Two prison officers receive slash wounds in inmate attack at Mountjoy Prison

The prisoner used an improvised weapon.

TWO PRISON OFFICERS have been injured in an incident which took place in the Mountjoy Prison this morning.

The two officers were injured at 8.30am in an unprovoked attack by an inmate using an improvised weapon.

The officers have been taken to hospital with slash wounds, which while serious are not thought to be life threatening.

Investigation launched

The Irish Prison Service has commenced an investigation into the incident and the gardaí have also been notified.

The Director General of the Irish Prison Service has said that his thoughts are with the injured staff and their families.

The Prison Officers Association (POA) issued a statement to say it is deeply concerned about the assault of the officers.

The prisoner had been placed in the Challenging Behaviour Unit, where the assault occurred, on foot of a previous incident involving a member of the medical staff.

Security concerns 

Jim Mitchell, Deputy General Secretary said this morning, “our main concern at this time is the impact such an attack will have on the two people involved and of course their families. This attack does again raise the security of prison officers and the resources required to do all that is reasonable to ensure their safety in the workplace.”.

The group hightlighted that it was not the first incident where prison officers had been assaulted.

Mitchell said “it is clear to all of us in the POA that Prison Service Management do not understand the day to day challenges being faced by faced by prison officers on the frontline – and this is of deep concern to us”.

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38 Comments
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    Mute Injustice Cop
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    Sep 9th 2024, 2:10 PM

    In this country, there will be no “justice” for the man murdered by the teen, assuming the teen was driving the stolen car. He’ll get a handful of years, be out in half that time. We are literally relying on perpetrators conscience for justice.

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    Mute rosemary flowers
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    Sep 9th 2024, 4:21 PM

    @Injustice Cop: what conscience? They have none, otherwise they would not be stealing cars, beating up OAP’s, mugging tourists and raping adults and children.

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    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
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    Sep 9th 2024, 1:52 PM

    Don’t think the poor man was on a bike, he was walking

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
    Favourite Dermot Blaine
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    Sep 9th 2024, 4:37 PM

    Slap on the wrist coming up, if precedent is anything to go by

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Sep 9th 2024, 9:47 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: and we’re paying his legal fees.
    Isnt it time the whole ‘free’ legal aid racket was reviewed? There’s no such thing as ‘free,’ it just means somebody else is paying. Can the costs not be taken from dole money? Or should nobody be entitled to more than three bites at that cherry? After that, let them have the service of a public defender, a newly qualified lawyer looking for experience. It works well elsewhere.

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    Mute John Moore
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    Sep 10th 2024, 1:49 AM

    I’d like to think it would be something other than 18 months with 6 of it suspended but I won’t hold my breath. A man is dead who was just out walking along. It could have been anyone. By all accounts this ‘teen’ and his gang are real pieces of work who should not be anywhere near the general public.

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