Vol. 465 No. 4
135 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the circumstances surrounding a recent fire in Mountjoy Prison; the person(s), if any, who was responsible; and the medical condition of the person(s) concerned at the time of the fire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9941/96]
The fire at the health care unit in Mountjoy on 18 December 1995 was started deliberately by a prisoner who, by so doing, put the lives of staff and other prisoners at risk. As a result of the fire 13 prison officers and six prisoners were taken to the hospital, of whom two officers and four prisoners were detained overnight. No staff or prisoners were seriously injured.
All fire response procedures, practices, physical infrastructures and training are being reviewed as a priority by my Department in close consultation with the prison authorities and the relevant expert agencies.
