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Prison bosses launch internal probe after female lag went missing from Mountjoy’s Dochas unit

A full-scale search operation took place at the Dublin jail

• Published: 13:34, 25 Dec 2023
• Updated: 13:35, 25 Dec 2023

PRISON bosses have launched an internal probe after a female lag went missing from the Dochas women’s unit in Mountjoy.

It is understood no one noticed the jailed woman’s absence despite a head count in the jail the previous night.

But when warders re-opened the cell doors the next day she still wasn’t there and a full-scale search operation was launched at 9.30am.

It turned out that the prisoner never actually left the Mountjoy compound and was later found in a video room where inmates appear on screen for remote court hearings.

A source said: “The whole episode is very embarrassing.

“No one copped that she wasn’t in her cell the previous night.

“When we realised she was gone we found her quick enough.

“It turns out that she was basically hiding in the video room trying to figure a way of getting out Mountjoy for Christmas.

“She basically wanted to go home for Christmas and never went back to her cell for lockdown.

“I believe she was actually out in the open of the Mountjoy complex for most of the night and then came back in out of the cold.

“She wanted to find a way out of the prison without getting caught but thankfully didn’t get away with it.”

The incident happened a few days ago.

The Irish Prison Service said it does not comment on operational matters or individual prisoners.