Prison officers begin work stoppage
Approximately 300 prison officers at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin have left their posts and are protesting at the prison’s entrance.
The officers are in dispute with management over new security measures which will see officers being screened when they arrive for duty every day.
The prison service says the stoppage was unnecessary.
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) general secretary John Clinton has said that three officers were injured during a row last night, where two officers were scalded with hot water, and the other bitten on the leg. Mr Clinton said this proves the need for security measures.
POA representatives have said that they are fully in favour of security measures brought into force by management.
However they object to this being conducted on their own time, as with the number of officers waiting to be screened, they say they could arrive on duty late through no fault of their own.
An estimated 160 officers, who are also affected by the new security proposals, are also outside St Patrick’s Institution.
Around 20 officers are also protesting at the Mountjoy Prison training unit at Glengariff Parade.
Prisoners have been locked in their cells while the protest is underway, but they will be let out again when the officers return at 3pm.
