Man involved in Mountjoy prison attack is jailed

By Eimear Dodd and Jessica Magee

A man involved in a violent incident at Mountjoy Prison during which another prisoner was stabbed seven times has been sentenced to four years in jail.

Ross Thompson (24) of Dolmen Terrace, Ballymun, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Mountjoy Prison on December 18, 2018.

Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of seven years for Thompson’s role in what described as a “very vicious assault”.

Judge Crowe said Thompson’s behaviour had been “utterly reprehensible and lawless”, noting that the injured prisoner had been stamped 15 or 16 times on his head while he lay on the ground.

The judge reduced the sentence to four years, backdated to July 7 last, on account of Thompson’s personal and mitigating circumstances including his young age and his plea of guilty.

The court heard previously that the violent incident took place in the recreation area of Mountjoy Prison at around lunchtime.

The injured party was assaulted by around six other prisoners, including Thompson.

Thompson also pleaded to charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and having no insurance on May 18, 2021 at Shangan Green, Ballymun.

He was disqualified from driving for three years from today.

CCTV footage of the incident at Mountjoy Prison in December 2018 was played to the court, showing Thompson kicking and stamping on the injured party.

During the incident, the victim was also stabbed up to seven times, though no weapon was recovered.

Thompson was not involved in the stabbing and the investigating garda said there is no suggestion that he was aware that a weapon would be used.

The Prison Service identified the individuals involved from the CCTV footage and carried out a disciplinary process.

The individuals involved were also given the opportunity by gardaí to make a statement, but no one did at that time.

The injured party did not wish to co-operate with the investigation.

Thompson has 61 previous convictions including two for assault causing harm, one for making threats to kill, eight for possession of drugs and 27 for road traffic offences.

He is currently serving a sentence of three years and three months which was imposed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last May in relation to the reckless discharge of a firearm in June 2022.

The investigating gardai agreed with Aoife O’Leary BL, defending, that her client was identified by the prison’s governor shortly after the incident.

He also agreed that Thompson accepted his involvement during a disciplinary meeting and lost some privileges in prison.

It was further accepted that there was a delay and Thompson was only charged this year in relation to this incident.

The court also heard that gardaí on mobile patrol stopped to speak with five men in the Shangan Green area of Ballymun on May 18, 2021.

While the garda car was stopped, Thompson approached it on a scrambler bike.

He revved the engine, then drove towards the patrol car, which had to take evasive action.

The scrambler bike mounted the footpath and Thompson came off it.

The other males also had to jump out of the way.

Thompson ran off and when gardaí caught him, he identified himself.

He was arrested and complained of pain while in custody.

Gardai noticed cuts and decided to release him so he could get medical attention.

Thompson had been disqualified from driving at the time.

The investigating garda confirmed to Ms O’Leary that her client was not on bail at the time.

Ms O’Leary asked the court to take into account her client’s early guilty pleas.

She noted that he surrendered his bail in relation to the violent disorder charge, accepted his involvement during the prison’s disciplinary process and instructed his solicitors to ask if he would face charges in relation to this incident.

She said any delays in the case were not caused by her client.

Ms O’Leary told the court her client developed a drug addiction to tablets and has a challenging background.

He is working as a cleaner while in custody.