Violent incidents in prisons in Ireland have increased by 137% in the space of three years.

Such incidents include assaults on staff, restraint interventions and prisoner-on-prisoner assaults. 

According to the Prison Officers Association, there were more than 100 direct physical assaults on prison officers at work in the last year alone. 

Irish prisons

The Prison Officers Association said the reality is violent incidents are much more likely occur in the current overcrowded prison environment, where prisoners are not getting sufficient access to non-cell facilities, such as workshops and recreation. 

An Irish Prison Service van. Credit; ED/ Alamy Live News

Speaking at the POA Delegate Conference, its Deputy General Secretary said last year a female prison officer was left with life changing injuries, sustained in an attack by a prisoner.

Gabriel Keaveny revealed that earlier this year one of its  members had his face slashed after he intervened with a prisoner who was trying to escape; the prisoner reportedly said, “I’ll stab you to death”, as he carried out the assault. 

Mr Keaveny called on the Government to provide  incapacitant spray, concealed batons and conflict resolution dogs, to allow officers to take more decisive action and add to overall safety. 

Main image: A woman in handcuffs.