October-November 47
the staff. The Prison Officers’ Association
(POA), instead of defending its members,
appeared to serve the interests of the
Department of Justice.
The decline of the Prison
Oicers’ Association (POA)
The POA’s decline began when its leadership
arranged motions of no confidence in its
former President and General Secretary, PJ
McEvoy, after he had attempted to highlight
the wrongful dismissal of seven prison officers.
His microphone was infamously turned off
during the 1992 POA National Conference.
Bullying culture under Chief
Oicer Horan
Chief Officer Horan fostered a toxic work
environment in Portlaoise, targeting certain
officers for harassment and punishment. A
group of officers from Offaly were particular
targets. Horan manipulated work rosters to
punish individuals. For example, Officer Sean
McCartney was repeatedly stationed at
Portlaoise’s boiler house gate in the rain, part
of a continuous tormenting of him.
Despite he Irish Army,
grrisoned s senries in
Porloise, firing shos
me, I mnged o cpure
IRA prisoner McVeigh
nd hnd him over o he
grdí
Introduction
Chief Officer Mick Horan played a central role
in systematic bullying at Portlaoise Prison. His
abuse of power primarily targeted individual
prison officers, and his actions were
characterised by open aggression against
those unable to defend themselves. Despite
the blatant nature of this harassment, no
intervention occurred on behalf of the State or
1980s Porloise run by IRA
nd bunch of bullies who
ried o frme hero officers
Systematic bullying Irelnd’s
highes securiy prison, Porloise,
ignored by prison officers’ union
By Sen O’Brien
The tragic consequences
of bullying
The bullying orchestrated by Horan had severe
consequences. He was implicated in an
incident where he kicked a prisoner in the face,
blinding him in one eye. Officer In a tragic
case, Officer JG Burke, who had faced
prolonged bullying, took his own life. The
emotional toll on the officers was profound,
leaving long-lasting scars.
Horan extended his bullying by exploiting
sick leave regulations, using them to paint
officers to the Justice Department as weak or
irresponsible when they took time off for
bullying-related stress, so losing wages. This
further isolated and stigmatised the victims,
worsening both their emotional and financial
well-being.
False accusations and
attempts to frame me and
Paddy Dunne
One of the most destructive incidents involved
Assistant Chief Officer Paddy Dunne, who
became a direct target of Horan.
On May 18, 1988, Patrick McVeigh, a
Provisional IRA member facing extradition to
Britain, attempted to escape from Portlaoise
Prison.
Horan ordered and pushed me into a
dangerous, ‘shoot to kill’ area in the direction
where McVeigh was trying to flee.
Despite the Irish Army, garrisoned as
sentries in Portlaoise, firing shots directly at
me. I managed to capture McVeigh and hand
Sen O’Brien: got dismissed from prison
service nd thirty-five yers of mentl
nquish
Portloise Prison nd lnding (inset)
POLITICS
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