Mountjoy staff injured in prisoner stand-off

12/07/2008 - 19:06:25
The security alert at Mountjoy prison in Dublin has come to an end with all prisoners who had barricaded themselves into the basement now being brought back to their cells.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Officer's Association says three members of staff were injured and have been taken to the Mater hospital for treatment.

There are reports that one prisoner was also injured and taken to hospital.

The security alert began after about 50 inmates forced staff to withdraw from the recreation area in the prison's D-wing in the afternoon.

It's understood they threw snooker balls and tables at staff.

Senior management were brought in to negotiate with the prisoners involved.

The IPOA says it has not established the cause of the stand-off, but it understands that overcrowding was one reason.