An attack by between 16 and 20 prisoners on a remand prisoner at Mountjoy jail was "plainly foreseeable" by the prison authorities, it was argued at the High Court yesterday.
Mr Robert Young (37), Kingsbury Gardens, Coleraine, Co Derry, has brought an action for damages against the Minister for Justice and the State arising from the alleged assault. The defence denies the claim and pleads contributory negligence.
Yesterday, Mr Richard Keane SC, for Young, said his client had arrived at the prison on July 12th, 1994 in the company of a known loyalist sympathiser. He was put into protective custody and in 24-hour confinement but could not cope and was moved to another part of the prison.
Mr Young said when he went to an exercise yard, a group of 1620 men approached him. Two drew out iron bars and he was "whacked", kicked and punched.
Under cross-examination, Mr Young was asked if it was possible he had broken away during the attack and fallen and received no more than a couple of blows. Mr Young said he did not remember. The hearing continues today.