The number of attacks on prison officers by violent inmates is on the increase.
A total of 91 warders were victims of assaults last year – 21 more than 2020, Justice Minister Helen McEntee revealed.
The most dangerous jails for staff in 2021 were Mountjoy and Limerick jails with 15 incidents.
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This was followed by Cloverhill and the women’s Dochas centre with 14 incidents in each.
There were no assaults recorded in Arbour Hill, where sex offenders are detained, or at Shelton Abbey open prison, Co Wicklow, or the maximum security Portlaoise Prison.
There were 249 assaults by prisoners on other inmates in 2021, one less than 2020.
This figure was less than the 452 assaults in 2019 before Covid struck.
The worst jail for prisoner on inmate assaults last year was the Midlands Prison with 57 incidents, followed by Cork, 46 and Castlerea, 45.
The safest jails were Portlaoise and Arbour Hill with no attacks.
Ms McEntee said: “Any act of violence against a person is unacceptable whether it is carried out against a prisoner, prison officer or other staff members.”
She was responding to a query from Aontu leader Deputy Peadar Toibin.
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