Ireland’s ‘most violent’ double killer moved out of Mountjoy Prison

Evil Stephen Penrose, 38, fought non-stop running battles with staff, physically threatened and fought other prisoners

• 06:00, 6 JUL 2022

• A double killer regarded as Ireland’s most violent prisoner has been moved out of Mountjoy where he was regarded as a danger to staff and other inmates.

Evil Stephen Penrose, 38, fought non-stop running battles with staff, physically threatened and fought other prisoners. Over the past year he had been detained on occasions in an isolation cell and also for a short time carried out a “dirty protest” leaving excrement in his cell.

He also attacked prison officers and tried to knife one in the neck. Penrose was regarded as a bad influence in Mountjoy but other prisons around the country had refused to take him.

Last weekend he was moved to Cork. He was given a life sentence earlier this year for the murder of his criminal friend Philip Finnegan, 24, in Co Kildare.

In 2010 Penrose killed David Sharkey, 28, from Navan, Co Meath, in a row over drugs.

He was found guilty of manslaughter and given a nine year jail sentence. A prison source said: “Penrose is one of the most dangerous prisoners we ever had. We will be glad to see the back of him.

“He would pick a fight with himself if he could. He was a danger to prison staff and other inmates.

“Many other prisoners were terrified of him. Mountjoy will be a much safer place without him.”