Mountjoy prison officer ‘in agony’ after breaking leg in attack by aggressive prisoner who refused to go to his cell

A prison officer has broken his leg during a confrontation with an aggressive inmate at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.

A police officer remains in hospital following an incident that occurred on Sunday evening at the A3 landing strip outside the prison.

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We understand there was a confrontation when the inmate – serving a sentence for possession of a firearm – refused to return to his cell after dinner.

During a scuffle with the prisoner, the officer suffered a leg injury.

Gardaí were also notified of the incident.

According to one source: “The policeman was in agony after the altercation and will be unemployed for a long time.

“The prisoner jumped at him, which resulted in a broken leg.”

This is the latest incident to occur at the prison in the past week.

On one occasion, one of the convicts threatened a prison officer with violence.

Prison authorities are currently investigating this serious threat.

On another occasion, four inmates got into a fight in the prison’s progression unit before the situation was brought under control.

The prisoners were later placed in different cells.

A source said: “The overpopulation problem is not helping and something needs to be done about it.

“There is a certain tension in prison, and when that happens, it can lead to violence.”

Shiv attack

Early last month, a crazed inmate attacked prison staff while brandishing a knife.

Gunman Jonathan Donovan, 38, attacked two prison staff at Base B in a horrific incident.

He pulled out a knife and attacked them both, but did not touch his opponent with it.

Attack Damage

One of the officers was hit several times by an inmate, resulting in injuries.

The second staff member did not appear to be injured in the incident.

Staff intervened before a control and restraint team quickly arrived.

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