Vol. 509 No. 1
111 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the investigations held into violent incidents in Mountjoy Prison on 18 September 1999 in which one prisoner received serious facial injuries which required hospital treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19713/99]
The incident referred to by the Deputy arose in the wake of an assault by one prisoner on another. When prison staff intervened, they in turn were attacked by a group of prisoners. Order was quickly restored and a number of prisoners were moved to other parts of the prison. Eleven prison officers and one seriously injured prisoner required hospital treatment.
Two investigations are under way into the incident – an internal investigation by the Governor of Mountjoy Prison and a Garda investigation. The principal focus of both investigations is the assault on the seriously injured prisoner. I am sure the Deputy will understand that I cannot comment further at present as both investigations are ongoing.
