THE remand prisoner who struck the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, "a glancing blow on the chin" in Limerick Prison on Friday has been transferred to the Central Mental Hospital for psychiatric assessment.
A prison source said the prisoner from Roscrea, Co Tipperary, was being admitted when he dashed from two prison officers and hit the Minister.
Mr Noonan had left the main party to make a telephone call. He had been accompanying the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, who was laying the foundation stone for a new wing.