A DISPUTE between prison officers and management at Mountjoy Prison and within the Irish Prison Service escalated last night when planned talks aimed at resolving security concerns at the jail were called off.
The Prison Officers Association (POA) has accused the prison service of “small-mindedness” and has urged Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to intervene to resolve the deepening row.
Association officials were due to meet Mountjoy and prison service management tomorrow to discuss the transfer of notorious criminal Leroy Dumbrell into the separation unit in Mountjoy.
However, in a statement last night, it said the prison service had called off the talks.
“To our total surprise, the reason given for the cancellation is that the POA are in the process of organising a ballot of its Mountjoy members on industrial action.”
The association said while a ballot on industrial action over the Dumbrell transfer was planned, this was standard industrial relations practice. It called on the prison service to “set aside its small-mindedness” and proceed with talks tomorrow morning.
A prison service spokesman was not available to comment last night.
When Dumbrell was transferred into Mountjoy’s separation unit on Tuesday from Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon, most Mountjoy prison officers abandoned their posts for four hours in a “wildcat” action.
Almost 700 inmates, who were locked in their cells eating lunch when the protest began at 2pm, were left in their cells until 6pm when staff decided to come back on duty. The prisoners were guarded by a small number of staff during the protest.
New governor of Mountjoy Ned Whelan said the actions of protesting staff had put the safety of their colleagues who remained on duty at “major risk”.
POA assistant general secretary Stephen Delaney said the separation unit was intended for inmates who needed protection from the wider prison population.
He said a minimal number of staff had been assigned to it because it was never envisaged that dangerous criminals like Dumbrell would be held there. Dumbrell had been taken out of Mountjoy in December because of his violent behaviour in leading a riot at the jail, yet he was now being housed in the separation unit at Mountjoy.
Mr Delaney said the association was willing to discuss security arrangements around Dumbrell with the prison service. However, a ballot for industrial would be held and would be acted upon if the talks did not go well. According to the association, it is this threat of industrial action that led to the prison service cancelling the talks.
Dumbrell (25), Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin, is serving an eight-year jail term for assault. He attacked a man out walking his dog and beat him so badly the victim lost his sight in one eye.
Dumbrell has a history of instigating and participating in serious prison violence.
