An investigation has been opened after a 26-year-old man was stabbed in the neck and seriously injured at Mountjoy prison in Dublin today.
The Irish Prison Service said the man's condition in hospital was 'serious'.
A spokesman said the man approached two prison officers in the 'A' yard during recreation time at around 11.15am this morning. He indicated he had been stabbed and had a number of wounds on his body, including one to the neck, the spokesman said.
"Staff rushed him to the Mater hospital and it looks serious for him. But I understand he has since regained consciousness," the spokesman said.
A hospital spokeswoman was unable to provide an update on the man's current condition.
The prisoner, who is from Dublin's inner city, had been serving a two-month sentence for a possession of drugs offence. He had only arrived at Mountjoy yesterday but it was not his first time in prison, it is understood.
The Irish Prison Service indicated it had no reason to believe the man had been in fear for his safety from another prisoner when he arrived.
The spokesman for the service said a Garda investigation had been launched into the serious attack.
The scene at the exercise yard has been sealed off and nterviews are due to be conducted with prisoners and staff about the attack.
It is the latest in a series of stabbing incidents in recent years at Mountjoy, which is due to be replaced by a new prison in north Dublin.
Last year, Alan Green (30), from Bray in County Wicklow died after he was stabbed in the heart in his prison cell. He had been serving a nine-month sentence for possession of drugs.
In 2002, a 28-year old prisoner stabbed a convicted rapist with a pair of nail scissors because he mistakenly thought the man was going to send dirty letters to his partner's young daughter.
Larry Murphy from Swilly Road, Cabra in Dublin was already serving a life sentence for murdering a cell mate but was given a further six year sentence last year for the attack on the rapist and a prison officer.
And in 2000, Thomas Brady (22), was stabbed through the heart in his prison cell in Mountjoy. The other prisoner in the cell said he had done it because he was annoyed by Brady's snoring.
Additional reporting: PA