Six men have been sentenced over a “violent protest” in Mountjoy Prison in which five prison officers were injured.
The court heard prison officers had to equip themselves with riot gear and over €142,000 worth of damage was caused in the incident involving over 20 inmates.
Judge Desmond Hogan described the incident as a “violent protest over new search methods and security instigated by the prison authorities” which the inmates “took exception to.”
John Paul Kelly, Mark Dignam, Brian Ormonde, Micheal Ward, Edward Keogh, Paul O’Reilly all pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder at Mountjoy Prison on July 12th, 2008.
Kelly (25), of Cherrywood Villas, Clondalkin, whose activities Judge Hogan was told should be regarded “in the higher category”, was sentenced to three years with the last 21 months suspended.
Dignam (34), of Meath Place, Earl Street, Dublin 8, whose activities the judge said were “of a higher gravity” although “not regarded as a ringleader” was sentenced to three years with the last 24 months suspended.
Ormonde (28), of Coolatree Road, Beaumont, Dublin 9, was sentenced to two years with the last 18 months suspended as the judge noted his involvement was at the lower end of the scale.
Ward (21) of Bawlea Drive, Tallaght, was given two years with the last 18 months suspended for “involvement at the lower end of the scale”.
O’Reilly (32) of Donomore Avenue, Tallaght, was also sentenced to two years with the last 18 months suspended after Judge Hogan said he had “minimal involvement.”
Keogh (27) of Oliver Bond House, Dublin 8, was also sentenced to two years with the last 18 months suspended for “minimal involvement”.
The whole incident was captured on CCTV footage although efforts were made to damage the cameras and obscure their vision after paint was thrown at them.
Det Karl Murray told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that the incident took place in a recreation area near workshops in the prison. He told the court there was to be a sit-down protest over new searching procedures.
Det Gda Murray said a number of prisoners began asking the time more than usual and prison officers noticed a number of men coming in from the yard.
Det Gda Murray said 70 to 80 prisoners congregated in the prison hall and they were asked to return to their cells and told if they left there no action would be taken towards them.
Snooker balls were thrown at head height which two prison officers narrowly avoided.
He said lengths of timber were being thrown out at officers, one of whom had his jaw dislocated and teeth broken. Most suffered inhalation type injuries from the use of fire extinguishers against them.