Talks today over dispute at Castlerea prison

Representatives of the Prison Officers Association will meet senior officials from the Irish Prisons Service today for talks …

Representatives of the Prison Officers Association will meet senior officials from the Irish Prisons Service today for talks aimed at resolving the dispute at Castlerea prison.

The move follows a one hour work stoppage at the Co Roscommon prison yesterday when all 190 prisoners were locked in their cells. All officers on duty took part in the action.

The POA deputy general secretary, Mr Eugene Dennehy, said the move was a "last resort". He claimed a repeated failure by the Prison Service and prison management to address serious concerns regarding bullying and harassment had prompted the move.

This claim was disputed by the Prison Service, which said it had an action plan which it hoped would help break the current impasse.