Five prisoners who took part in a St Stephen's Day riot at St Patrick's Institution in which four prison officers were injured have received two- and three-year sentences at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the final year of all the sentences due to the youth of the men and the punishment they already received while in St Patrick's.
The five, who are all from Dublin, are: Leonard Dumbrell (20), Emmet Road, Inchicore; Charlie Darcy (19), Crumlin Park, Crumlin; Jason Brady (22), Moatview Avenue, Priorswood; Noel Hudson (22), Seán O'Casey Avenue; and Gary Hanly (19), North Great Clarence Street. They pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the institution on December 26th, 2005.
Judge Ryan adjourned sentencing of Jonathan Donovan (23), O'Devaney Gardens, to next week after hearing that because he had time left on his original sentence, he might not be released until 2011 if she gave him a similar sentence to the other men.
The six men have 305 convictions between them, with Dumbrell having 97, including seven for assault.
Judge Ryan said the violent nature of Darcy's and Hudson's role in the riot warranted a three-year sentence, while Dumbrell, Brady and Hanly played a smaller role. They were given two years each.
Following the riot they all had been subject to disciplinary proceedings and lost remission and privileges such as visits and exercise, while some were placed in 23-hour solitary confinement.
Det Garda Terence McHugh told Mary Rose Gearty, prosecuting, that the riot started after prisoners were spotted interfering with a fence in the exercise yard.
He said there were a large number of prisoners involved in the riot but prison officers were able to positively identify only the six before the court.
Donovan was observed throwing a garment on to the razor fence and setting it alight as Dumbrell pulled down metal goal posts in the recreational area.
Det Garda McHugh said staff then entered to clear the yard as more items were set alight and inmates became agitated and started to attack them. Hudson struck a prison officer, pushing his glasses into his eyes.
Dumbrell assaulted another prison officer as he was trying to restrain another inmate. Donovan punched a female prison officer in the face.
Det Garda McHugh said Brady pushed prisoners who were returning peaceably to their cells into the path of a prison officer and pushed another officer to the ground where he was kicked and punched by other prisoners.
Hanly shouted at other inmates to "get the screws" and told a prison officer: "I will f**king kill you" while he was being taken back to cell.
Det Garda McHugh said four prison officers were injured and three had been taken to hospital.