Jail sentence handed down for assault in Laois prison

A prison sentence was handed down to an inmate who assaulted another prisoner in the Midlands Prison.

David McCarthy (30), of Selhurst Road, South Norwood, Croydon, London pleaded guilty to assault causing harm at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise on October 13, 2022. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was “put in a cell with Keith Williams and he assaulted him”. 

He said the victim required glue stitching to a cut on his head and physio to his back and shoulder after the assault. 

“There was a couple of other people involved,” said Sgt Kirby. 

The court was told the defendant is serving a five year sentence and is due for release on September 23 next year.

A barrister for the accused said his client had just 15 months left to serve. He said the man had been in and out of custody for most of his adult life. 

Judge Nicola Andrews noted the man hadn’t acted alone and that he had entered a guilty plea. She sentenced him to three months in prison with the  sentence to commence from the date of the court hearing.