Spike in attacks on prison officers in Portlaoise and other jails demands action

Rising violence against prison officers working in jails in Portlaoise and elsewhere has to be tackled.

That is the view of Karl Dalton, General Secretary of the Prison Officers Association.

“The increase in overall violence in our prisons from 2021 to 2022 is of deep concern to all prison officers,” he told POA delegates from jails in Portlaoise and elsewhere.

“Of major concern is an increase in assaults on prison officers over the period (21-22) from 91 to 134 – an increase of some 46%. Some of these assaults have been extremely serious and will have a lasting impact on those who were injured and their families.

“All workers should be able to attend the workplace with a reasonable expectation of not being threatened and/or assaulted, and this is not the case for many of our members in 2023.

“Despite the best efforts of prison officers on the ground, prisoner-on-prisoner assaults have increased dramatically from 249 to 380 over the period (21-22), an increase of some 52%.

“And this increase in prisoner violence has led to an increase in the control and restraint related injuries of prison officers as they try curtail the violence. Injuries to staff have increased from 61 to 100 in the same period, an increase of some 63%, as they try to control the violence,” he said.

He called on the Minister for Justice not to 'gloss' over the situation.

“Unless the overcrowding and recruitment issues are resolved these levels of violence will increase in all areas – and inevitably lead to serious injury and further fatalities,” he said at the POA annual conference.

"We are primarily concerned for our members, but we also want to ensure, as best possible, that prisoners who are placed under our care are safe in a secure environment,” said Mr Dalton.

Claim that complaints against prison officers in Laois and elsewhere are 'vexatious'

The annual conference was held in Galway in April.