Man admits assaulting prison officer in Portlaoise

A man has been given a suspended sentence for assaulting a prison officer. 

Dean Barnwell, 25, of 1 St Aidan’s Green, Clongeen, Wexford admitted assaulting a prison officer in the Midlands Prison on June 15, 2021. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby described it as a “nasty incident” and said the man had assaulted a prison officer who was escorting him to his cell. He said the man struck the prison officer a number of times in the face and body.  He said the man has seven previous convictions. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was entering a guilty plea. He said the man is employed as a general operative and he only got the job six weeks ago.  He said it’s the first job the man has ever had.  He said the man’s father had died while he was serving a prison sentence. 

Mr Meagher noted it was a Section 2 assault charge which he said was more an “element of pushing and shoving” with “some strikes to the body”.

“This is a man doing his job in the Midlands Prison,” said Judge Andrew Cody.

He imposed a three month sentence which he suspended for two years.