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A PRISON OFFICER in Ireland’s largest prison had blood smeared over his face by a prisoner in the past week.
Two other prison officers at Mountjoy had boiling water thrown at them and another was struck viciously in the head.
A fourth officer had to have hospital treatment after being bitten by a prisoner.
The shocking details at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin were released by the Prison Officers Association, which is holding its annual conference in Sligo.
“Where else in the State is this type of behaviour a feature of a worker’s daily life?” asked Stephen Delany, president of the POA.
Mountjoy has had frequent problems with overcrowding in both the men’s and women’s prisons on the site with the number of prisoners increasing significantly in recent years. There are currently 4,065 prisoners in custody in the country, an increase of more than 20 per cent since 2007.
Delany said that overcrowding has been tackled in prisons like Mountjoy but remains a major issue in other jails.
He pointed to the fact that prison numbers have swollen while the resources available have shrank.
“Where does this level of increase in occupancy take us – it just can’t continue without planning at management level and a review of facilities and resources,” he said.
Delany said that more care needs to be put in place to ensure prison officers are safe at work.
“Violent and disruptive prisoners have to be managed better within the prison estate,” he said.
“There is an enormous task ahead with regard to creating a workplace where staff are treated with dignity and respect and are valued as employees”.
“Even for Portlaoise Prison, the highest security prison in Europe, there is a proposal to withdraw the Environmental Allowance [which is related to the presence of dangerous subversive prisoners] for staff within.
“It is not because the subversive prisoners have gone away, it is because the prison numbers have increased to include the most dangerous criminal underworld within the state”.
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RIp still very young
What a good actor of straight and comedy roles. RIP
Great actor I still watch Dalziel and Pascoe
I only watched him alongside Clint Eastwood in Firefox from 1982 on ITV4 last night-excellent film in which he played a memorable role. Very sad news, RIP
To soon to go Warren. Sleep easy now. R I P.
Loved him as the landlord in that classic football hooliganism film ID. RIP Mr Clarke.
Blackadder III, the Amy and Amiability sketch was a classic.
Clarke played Mr Hardwood, Amy’s father.
Mr H: “I’d rather take off all my clothes and paint my bottom blue than give her to a man who didn’t love her!
Edmund Blackadder : What self-respecting father could do more ?
H: On the other hand, if he’s a prince, he can have her for ten bob and a pickled egg.
E: I can see where your daughter gets her ready wit, sir.
H: I thank you.
E: Although where she gets her good looks and charm is perhaps more of a mystery.
H: No one ever made money out of good looks and charm.
E: You obviously haven’t met Lady Hamilton, sir.
So young so sad RIP
Rest in peace, great actor.
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