A sex offender, who was viciously beaten by other prisoners in Wheatfield Prison, has lost a claim for up to £30,000 damages against the Minister for Justice. Thomas Hickey, formerly of Rathcash, Clifden, Co Kilkenny, and now living in England, told his counsel, Ms Alice Doyle, that the system of segregating and escorting sex offenders for their protection had broken down on July 29th, 1991.
He said he was kicked to the ground by another prisoner who "drove" his front teeth up into his jawbone. Hickey claimed the normal practice of clearing corridors of prisoners while sex offenders were being escorted to and from various areas of the prison had not been adhered to. Judge Kevin Haugh said Hickey was being escorted by one prison officer when a sudden, determined and unanticipated attack had been launched from behind. He felt the presence of another officer would probably not have avoided such an incident.
Judge Haugh said the only way the authorities could avoid such attacks would be to keep all prisoners confined to their cells for long periods. He told Mr Brendan Gogarty, counsel for the Minister, that the policy of his client in allowing prisoners as much time as possible out of their cells was a commendable way to run a prison.