Ward admits part in siege

Paul Ward, convicted of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, has pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning a prison officer …

Paul Ward, convicted of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, has pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning a prison officer during a siege at Mountjoy jail in 1997. Ward (36), of Walkinstown Road, Dublin, changed his plea to guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when he appeared yesterday before Judge Frank O'Donnell. He pleaded guilty to unlawfully detaining Mr Joseph Fleming on January 4th-6th, 1997.

The siege happened after a rooftop protest by six prisoners developed into a situation where a number of prison officers were held hostage for several days.