Home We Are Laois 2019 Remembered: One of Ireland’s most violent prisoners moves to Portlaoise Prison

2019 Remembered: One of Ireland’s most violent prisoners moves to Portlaoise Prison

Celyn Eadon has been serving time in the Midlands Prison ever since.


One of the most violent prisoners in the country is set to move to Portlaoise Prison, according to the Irish Sun.

27-year-old Celyn Eadon, who is currently in Wheatfield, will become the latest violent criminal to move to the new high security unit in the Midlands prison, Portlaoise.

Mayo native Eadon will become the fourth inmate in the new unit, which aims to drastically reduce the number of serious violent attacks in prisons across the country.

The four chosen prisoners are seen as being the biggest threat to safety in prisons – due to their involvements on assaults on prison staff and other prisoners.

Eadon, from Castlebar, was sent to jail in 2014 after knifing his mother Noreen Kelly to death in 2011 after she burnt his drugs.

Since being sentenced, he has been involved in a number of incidents in the prison system.

Eadon battered a fellow inmate in 2017, and he also got a two-and-a-half-year jail term for throwing boiling water at another prison officer.

Last year, Eadon attacked a worker in Wheatfield and caused injuries to his arm and shoulders.

While just two weeks ago, he attacked prison officers while being brought from his cell to another part of the prison at the time.

He unleashed on officers who were wearing full riot gear and had shields to protect themselves.

According to the Irish Independent, Eadon is set to join three other prisoners including 25 year old Alan Ellis, who is serving six years for torturing a 14 year old boy.

Ellis was convicted of tying the boy to a radiator, pouring boiling water down his trousers and attacking him with a cheese grater.

Leon Wright – who has more than 100 criminal convictions – is also in the unit. He has been involved in attacks on 25 jail staff.

While another named by the paper is Brendan Cummins who has carried out numerous assaults in prison – including an attack on an assistant governor.

The new high security unit cost €2.7 million to build and has ten cells which will be used for crisis situations.

Staff have been specially trained in the unit and plan to expose the prisoners to some sort of normality from interacting with others.

Inmates who show improved behaviour will eventually be allowed access to a recreation room. This has a kitchen, table and chairs, bolted to the floor, as well as a beanbag and a PlayStation.

These prisoners will also have their own exercise yard, which is monitored by CCTV cameras.

Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan officially opened back in November.

He supports the wearing of body cameras for staff in the unit on a trial basis and said he hoped to see the measure rolled out throughout the prison service.

Speaking at the time, he said that the unit represented a new approach towards inmates.

SEE ALSO – Check out more from the 2019 Remembered Series