asked the Minister for Justice the nature of the investigation into the riot in Mountjoy prison on 5 November 1979 and the findings of that investigation.
Written Answers. - Prison Riot.
379.
An internal investigation was carried out immediately after the riot and, based on this, I issued a statement, a copy of which is appended. Subsequently, the Garda Síochána were called in to carry out an investigation. It is understood that the investigation has been completed and that the file is now with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Following is the statement issued by the Government Information Services on behalf of the Department of Justice:
The disturbance started about 7.30 p.m. when prisoners in the "A" wing were leaving workshops in order to collect their supper on the first floor of the wing. When the prisoners reached the end of the wing where the supper was awaiting them some of them threw the utensils etc. about and rushed at the 12 prison officers who were in charge of the wing. The total number of prisoners was 105 but not all of them were involved in the disturbance. The prison officers managed to get out of the wing and the prisoners then barricaded themselves in and commenced to smash up furniture and unhinge cell doors. The alert was sounded and extra staff and gardaí were called in. In addition, the Dublin Fire Brigade came with extra hoses for prison staff to use. Army personnel also stood by. As the rioting continued hoses were played on the rioters on both ends of the wing and the prison officers assisted by gardaí broke their way into the wing. Holes had been made in the passageways known as the cat-walks at the point where prison officers would enter, presumably so that they would fall through and injure themselves. In fact one prison officer and one prisoner did fall through to the floor beneath but luckily they were not seriously injured. The prisoners were removed from the wing and arrangements were made to accommodate some of them for the night in other parts of the prison.
Injuries of various kinds were received by 26 members of the staff and by 36 prisoners. Three members of the staff and 23 prisoners were taken to various hospitals but only one person, a prisoner, was detained overnight.
Eighty-four prisoners were being accommodated in the "A" wing this morning and work has already begun to repair the damage. The estimated cost of the repairs is of the order of a few thousand pounds.
The disturbance was quite unexpected. No complaints had been made by any of the prisoners and it is assumed that the intention was to make difficulties for the prison administration. In fact some of the prisoners in "A" wing had been interviewed by the Visiting Committee of the prison yesterday morning and had made no complaints. Investigations are continuing. No decision in regard to disciplinary action has been taken. The Chairman of the Visiting Committee in accordance with normal practice after a disturbance will visit the prison to-day.
Among the newspaper accounts this morning there were suggestions that there was overcrowding in the prison and that fires were started round "A" wing. There was in fact no overcrowding and the only fire started was a minor one, directed it is thought against a prisoner who refused to take part in the disturbance.
"A" wing contains the more difficult prisoners, several of them convicted of very serious offences such as robbery and serious assaults. All the prisoners involved in the disturbance had been convicted.
Visits will not be allowed to-day to prisoners who were in the "A" wing yesterday.
6th November, 1979.