Prison officers taken hostage during disturbances at Mountjoy prison were so traumatised they have been unable to return to work, a court heard yesterday. Dublin District Court also heard, during bail applications by six men charged in connection with the incident, that a threat was made afterwards concerning one of the officers.
The six men are Mr Warren Dumbrell (23), of O'Devenney Gardens, Dublin, Mr Eamonn Seery (32), of Coultry Road, Ballymun, Mr Stephen Galvin (24), of Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, Mr Joseph Cooper (25), of Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Mr Edward Ferncombe (25), of Harelawn Drive, Clondalkin, and Mr Paul Ward (33), of Windmill Park, Crumlin.
Each was charged last week with falsely imprisoning five officers at Mountjoy Prison on January 4th last.
Det Insp Hubert Collins objected to bail, saying the prison officers were threatened for two days with iron bars, blood-filled syringes and a razor; one hostage was also forced to stand on a table with a noose around his neck.
He added that while being taken by van to Portlaoise Prison on January 7th Mr Ferncome made threats concerning one of the officers by saying: "I'll stop at nothing to get that bastard Mulrooney".
Judge Catherine Murphy refused bail for the five men who were in the prison van on January 7th, but set bail for Mr Dumbrell in his own bond of £10,000 and independent surety of £20,000.
All six defendants will appear in court again on December 5th.