Ireland Man jailed for threatening prison officers at Cloverhill Prison
On January 3, 2022, Damien Clarke (40), of North Strand, Drogheda, Co. Louth, was on remand at Cloverhill Prison when he called a female prison officer a tramp, told her he would slice her, and told a male prison officer he would box the head off him if he did not arrange a move to a different landing. Clarke pleaded guilty at an early stage to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a prison officer. On June 27, 2023, Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court imposed a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended, so he was reported as jailed for two and a half years, with the suspended part subject to engagement with the Probation Service for two years after release.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The two victims were prison officers, a female officer and a male officer.
- Clarke called the female prison officer a tramp and told her he would slice her.
- Clarke told the male prison officer he would box the head off him if he did not arrange a move to a different landing.
- Weapon
- Clarke made a gun symbol with his thumb and finger.
- Where
- The threats were made at Cloverhill Prison.
- When
- The threats were made on January 3, 2022.
- Charges
- Clarke pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a prison officer.
- In court
- The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on June 27, 2023, by Judge Orla Crowe.
- Sentence
- Judge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of three years and suspended the final six months, which the report describes as jailed for two and a half years.
- The suspended portion was subject to conditions including engaging with the Probation Service for two years after release.
- Other details
- Clarke pleaded guilty at an early stage and was suffering from mental health issues and polysubstance abuse issues at the time.
- Clarke was on remand at the time of the incident and has 44 previous convictions.
- Victim impact statements were submitted but not read aloud.
- The judge said prison officers perform an important function in society and that threatening one in the course of their work was a serious offence.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatClarke called a female prison officer a tramp and told her he would slice her. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatClarke told a male prison officer he would box the head off him if he did not arrange a move to a different landing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatClarke made a gun symbol with his thumb and finger. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe threats were made at Cloverhill Prison. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe threats were made on January 3, 2022. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeClarke pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a prison officer. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of three years and suspended the final six months. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended portion was subject to conditions including engaging with the Probation Service for two years after release. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherClarke pleaded guilty at an early stage. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherClarke was suffering from mental health issues and polysubstance abuse issues at the time. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherClarke was on remand at the time of the incident. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherClarke has 44 previous convictions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherVictim impact statements were submitted but not read aloud. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Jun2023Louth inmate jailed for threatening prison officers
Reports the sentencing of Damien Clarke at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including the judge's remarks, his guilty plea, mitigation and previous convictions.
convicted, Damien Clarke, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Damien Clarkevictim, femalevictim, male