Mountjoy Prison lockdown lifted following false alarm

Mountjoy Prison was placed under lockdown for a period on Wednesday after a "suspicious item" was discovered.

In a statement, the Irish Prison Service confirmed “a suspicious item was discovered on the C wing of Mountjoy Prison” at approximately 12.30pm.

Following an initial examination by prison staff and gardaí it was suspected the item may be part of a firearm containing a number of bullets.

“As a result appropriate action was taken by the prison Governor and a general search of the prison was commenced,” said the statement.

The item was removed by the Garda for a forensic examination and it was subsequently determined that it was not part of a weapon.

It’s understood prisoners remained in lockdown for approximately an hour more than would be usual after lunch.