AN INVESTIGATION HAS been launched into a fire in Mountjoy Prison, which caused five inmates being taken to hospital on Saturday.

Gardaí and prison officials are examining the circumstances behind the blaze, which they suspected was started deliberately at about 8pm on Saturday night, RTÉ reports. Five inmates were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

It is believed that a group of prisoners were placed in the basement as a result of them being involved in a fight between rival gangs.

There were 680 inmates in the building when the fire broke out; 60 people needed to be moved to other areas in the prison as a result of the fire.

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Investigation underway into Mountjoy fire

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