Update 10am:

Prison officers are calling for gangland criminals to be separated in our jails.

They say gangs are fully operational within prisons – and they’re calling on authorities to allow the passing on of Garda intelligence to help police the facilities.

The concerns are being raised at their annual conference in Athlone today – it follows five gang related deaths in the capital since the start of this year.

Stephen Delaney President of the Prison Officers Association outlines the difficulties his members are facing: “At the minute in Mount Joy Prison for example there would be regarded as 18 different fractions, confined within the prison and that is extremely difficult to manage.

“They cannot associate with each other and that is causing huge operational difficulties for the staff within the prison.

“We are asking the authorities to give us whatever resources are necessary to cater for these individuals to ensure the safety of all.”

Update 8am:

Prison officers have said gangs are fully operational within our jails.

They are raising concerns that the recent surge in gangland killings could lead to a rise in violence in prisons – once those behind the incidents are caught.

Officers want those involved in gangland crime to be separated from others in the facilities.

The call follows five gang related deaths in the capital since the start of this year.

Stephen Delaney is President of the Prison Officers Association: “Major gangland figures are confined within our prisons and they are today conducting operations from behind prison walls.

“Visitors, mobile phones, undue influence on those around them, in terms of drugs, violence and other acts of intimidation.”