Seven staff injured in Midlands Prison attack
The Midlands Prison in Portlaoise. File image
AN investigation is underway after seven staff were assaulted at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise.
It is understood that some officers were bitten by a prisoner during the violent incident, which has been reported to gardaí.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) confirmed this afternoon that seven prison officers were injured during the serious incident on Sunday.
Gardaí and the IPS have opened separate investigations following the series of assaults on 8 November.
It is understood that prison officers were attacked by an inmate, with some suffering bites and other injuries.
In a statement today, the IPS said: ‘The Irish Prison Service can confirm that an incident occurred at the Midlands Prison on 8 November 2026, which resulted in seven staff being injured.
‘The matter was reported to An Garda Síochána and it would not be appropriate to comment further.’
The IPS declined to comment on reports that the incident occurred after a prisoner, who was found unresponsive in a cell, attacked several officers after being revived.
According to IPS figures, there were 1,026 inmates at the overcrowded prison in Portlaoise on Monday, with 33 on mattresses. The medium security prison has an operational capacity of 891.
