Courts / Dublin / Report

Notorious prisoner on high-risk regime punched nurse

Summary

In a Wheatfield Prison maximum‑security unit, Jeffrey Dumbrell, a life‑sentenced murderer, punched prison nurse Donna Canavan in the face while she was administering his medication. The incident, which occurred on 19 July 2015, is Dumbrell's second conviction since his 2011 life sentence. Earlier in 2016 he was sentenced for threatening to rip a prison officer's head off. Dumbrell pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The court noted that a life sentence cannot be extended for new offences, but the Parole Board may consider the new conduct when assessing his release. Dumbrell was restrained by officers and taken to an isolation cell; he did not resist. Nurse Canavan suffered severe bruising, missed six weeks of work, recovered fully and has since transferred to another prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Notorious prisoner on high-risk regime punched nurse. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• 19 July 2015 Incident
• 2016-10-05 Publication

Why: " The courts have ruled previously that a life sentence cannot be extended for new offending while in prison because technically a life sentence never ends. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report