Knives 'almost as deadly as a gun' - former Laois prison officer recounts vicious assaults

A former Laois prison officer has described a vicious knife assault on a colleague, calling for tougher mandatory sentencing.

Labour councillor Noel Tuohy from Portlaoise worked in Portlaoise Prison for many years.

He said that a fellow officer's face was "cut to ribbons" by a weapon in the prison.

Cllr Tuohy has tabled a motion to Laois County Council requesting that they contact Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and request mandatory minimum sentencing for anyone found carrying a knife without a valid reason. 

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"This is my third time to bring this up. It is not anything to do with my family member who was held hostage with a knife to their throat two years ago.

A friend of mine who joined the same day as me had their face cut to ribbons and needed 100 stitches. Another had their ear cut off. Carnage. The Government needs to address this," he said.

"Knives are commonplace now. They make them from toothbrushes and razor blades. But the carrying of a knife is not acceptable or legal unless they are a tool of a trade. They are as deadly as a gun. People say they need to carry them now as protection but you can't protect yourself with a knife. They can only lead to more suffering.

"The maximum sentence needs to be increased and there should be a mandatory sentence," he said.

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His motion was to the January meeting of Laois County Council, and was seconded by Cllr Ben Brennan.

"There is a fear of people that they have to bring protection, a knife for a knife. It's like a knife for a life. It would remind you of the 1780s. It's not a gun now it's a knife. This country is out of control. God help any family getting word that a member is killed or stabbed. Something needs to be done," Cllr Brennan said.