Gardaí in Cork are investigating an incident in which a prison officer was attacked and knocked unconscious while on escort duty at the Washington Street courthouse in the city.
The officer in his 50s was escorting prisoners into the courthouse cells on Monday for Circuit Criminal Court sittings when a prisoner, aged 36, turned on him and attacked him without warning.
The prison officer was punched in the head and knocked unconscious before his colleagues were able to restrain the prisoner.
The prison officer regained consciousness and was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he was expected to remain overnight as a precautionary measure.
Gardaí have opened an investigation into the assault and it is understood that detectives are waiting to be given permission by doctors to speak to the injured prison officer about what happened.
They also plan to speak to other prison officers who were part of the escort detail before interviewing the prisoner, who was due to appear on charges at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
An Irish Prison Service spokesman confirmed the incident was being investigated and said that disciplinary measures would be taken on foot of the inquiry if deemed necessary.
