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ALL FIVE MEN who were convicted of the manslaughter of Dale Creighton have been sent to Portlaoise Prison following a jail yard fight on Tuesday.
The men, who were all committed to Mountjoy Prison on Monday, were in the gym area of the prison when a number of men approached them and a fight broke out.
While there were no serious injuries, the men have already been moved to Portlaoise Prison for what have been described “as operational reasons” by security sources.
“There were a few digs thrown in the yard. All five of the men have been moved for safety and operational reasons. I think they were to be moved there in the first place. They should be able to survive down in Portlaoise.”
It is understood that the men’s planned transfer to Portlaoise was sped up following Tuesday’s incident.
The Irish Prison Service said it had no comment to make about the incident.
Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, Gerard Stevens , Jason Beresford and David Burke were all sentenced for manslaughter.
As she handed down sentences on Monday, Justice Deirdre Murphy said the men (and one woman who was convicted over the killing) were not evil or even bad people but described the fatal assault as prolonged and vicious.
She noted that, following an allegation that he had stolen Aisling Burke’s phone, Creighton was ‘marched up the steps onto the footbridge and mercilessly kicked and beaten’.
High profile cases such as the Creighton manslaughter verdict draw a lot of attention, according to one security source, who said that there would be “people waiting for them” when they arrived.
As is regular procedure, new prisoners are kept under surveillance for the first days of their incarceration. It is then decided if they should be placed under a protected regime, where they are often confined to their cell for their own safety.
Speaking outside the court on Monday, Creighton family spokeswoman Helena D’Arcy said the sentences were too lenient and told of the family’s devastation at losing Dale so young.
She said: “Our lives changed dramatically in 2014. Needless to say, the years have been traumatic for our family as we waited for this day. Dale was then, and still is, the centre of our world. We can no longer enjoy Dale’s presence. It was only through our unending and deep love we have for him that we can move forward.”
Dale was described as a shy young man who loved his family unconditionally. D’Arcy added that he had his whole life ahead of him. She said that Justice Murphy had a very difficult job to do but said the Creighton family had hoped for harsher punishments.
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The Mr Magoo of Irish politics. Blundering from crisis to crisis. College dropout, never had a real job in his life. Google him.
Overseeing the biggest employer in the country with a 17 billion budget. What could go wrong?
Problem is people are suffering and dying under his watch. Billions for a childrens hospital in wrong place. Just like former Health Minister and his patron Varadker the kylie Minogue supplicant. All show, blow and bluster.
Just like FF who ruined us, the labour party who colluded, the Shinners who have been found out, the Independents who have been exposed as hacks. The Greens outmanoeuvred by FF.
The others are margin off error groupings.
Despair!
@Honey Badger: Why, what would you do?
@Honey Badger: I respect your efforts if that were to happen I sincerely hope it doesn’t. With respect you would be wasting your time and money this Government has it all sown up .
Move that hospital into a new facility on the proposed site of the children’s hospital on the mater grounds. There’s lots of land there that can be used.
HSE Estates must the most incompetent section of the HSE. Have they anyone experienced in building ?
Absolutely amazing that harris is still in that job. And its not in any way a compliment, its a total disgrace thats he’s not being dealt with (ie: booted out), and its a tragedy for everybody involved.
This hospital isn’t going to make a dam bit of a difference to the health service. I do understand we need it but we need 4 more also, prisons, schools , infrastructure and more important affordability housing not hand out housing
But wouldn’t that be the right thing to do?
Minster should get a personality……..
You have to ask how this clown gets such a job. He has no qualification whatsoever. The resulting mess and excuse after excuse underline his inability to do his job
have your say