A clerical student was injured when he was attacked by prisoners during mass at Mountjoy Prison.
The attack at Mountjoy Prison occurred during a mass attended by around 300 inmates. As communion was being served, three prisoners rushed to the altar.
One of the men grabbed the young clerical student, knocked him to the ground and cut him slightly in the neck with a piece of broken glass from a mirror.
Student priest Deacon Colm Kenny, who was assisting the prison chaplain Father Harry Gaynor at the mass, was knocked to the ground and suffered a gash to the neck from a piece of broken glass. As the deacon was on the ground, other prisoners grabbed the priest's microphone and urged inmates to attack the prison warders. Prison officers believed that the men were attempting to take hostages.
During the disturbances, the chalice was knocked over and communion hosts were spilt on the floor.
The situation was brought under control by prison officers and mass continued. The deacon was treated in the prison surgery for his injuries and was very shaken.
One of the prisoners involved in the attack threatened prison officers with a knife as he was being taken back to his cell. Again, the situation was brought under control. In a follow up search of cells, a number of six inch nails were discovered in both A wing and the prison chapel.
This was among a number of incidents that have occurred at the prison over the last few days. General Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) Stephen Delaney says that the trouble is a culmination of a number of factors, most importantly overcrowding in the prison. In addition, there has been a reduction in staff levels since November which has seriously reduced security at Mountjoy.
The relationship between staff and management have been at an all time low.
Stephen Delaney calls for government action to address the overcrowding issue by reopening The Curragh for civilian prisoners.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 July 1984. The reporter is Joe O'Brien.
