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Ireland: prison officers 'urged inmates to attack colleagues'
A Garda file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on allegations that officers in Portlaoise Prison incited some of the most dangerous prisoners in the country to attack other officers.
A large number of prison officers are understood to have been interviewed in the investigation, along with prisoners held in the most secure block in the prison, including Freddie Thompson, who is serving a life sentence for murder.
The issue came to light in 2019 when Thompson made a complaint that three junior officers were bad-mouthing three more senior officers to prisoners, and putting their safety in danger.
Other prisoners and at least two other prison officers, unconnected to the issue, confirmed the broad thrust of the complaint, which was upheld by the investigator, John Naughton.
However, the three junior officers did not receive any disciplinary sanctions.