A young inmate and soccer player who delivered a forceful punch, rendering an older prisoner unconscious in the exercise yard, has been handed an additional 10-week prison term.
Destiny Enogieru, a soccer player from The Manor in Clondulane, Fermoy, pleaded guilty to assaulting another middle-aged prisoner approximately a year ago, just a few days after commencing his sentence at Cork Prison.
According to Garda Sergeant Pat Lyons, the assault resulted in injuries to the victim’s nose, swelling around his right eye, a minor laceration on his right cheek, and minor grazing on his scalp.
“CCTV footage shows him being beaten up and knocked unconscious,” the Sergeant said.
Sergeant Lyons revealed that the accused had previously been convicted of three counts of assault and two counts of assault causing harm.
Judge Roberts sentenced the defendant to an additional 10 weeks in prison, commenting, “Knocking someone out, particularly if their head strikes the ground, is a serious offence.”
Defence solicitor Diane Hallahan highlighted that the charge against her client was one of simple assault, rather than assault causing harm, and emphasised the accused’s acknowledgment of the facts, expressing remorse for his actions. She explained that at the time of the incident, he was only 18 years old and had recently entered prison, where he was experiencing significant difficulties.
“He acted recklessly in the heat of the moment. He was going through a rough patch during that time. He deeply regrets his actions,” Ms. Hallahan stated.
Following the incident, the authorities visited the prison and offered the defendant an opportunity to provide a statement, which he declined.
Prison attacks remain an ongoing problem within the Irish prison system.
Just 4 days ago, in an unrelated incident, a guard was stabbed in the face with a plastic shiv during an attempted escape in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison, which left the officer with serious injuries. The suspect behind that attack was a violent inmate in his 20s serving a life sentence for murder.
The attacked officer’s injuries have been described as “significant,” and he is now undergoing treatment in the Mater Hospital for multiple injuries to his cheek.
According to the Prison Officers Association, there has been a 63% increase in injuries to prison staff between 2021 and 2022.
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