Two gangland criminals clash in prison brawl
A prison source confirmed that convicts Roy Woodland (23) and Paul Coffey (29) had "a brawl" in Portlaoise Prison which left Coffey requiring hospital treatment after his face was slashed open.
Coffey - who was the getaway driver for the two assassins who shot Eddie Ryan dead in the Moose bar in 2000 - was left with a cut from his ear to his mouth following the incident.
It is believed a blade was used in the incident.
Coffey was transported to hospital where he was immediately treated. Portlaoise gardai are investigating but it is understood that no official complaint has been made from any of the parties involved.
Both Woodland, from Canon Breen Park, Thomondgate, and Coffey, from Moyross, were housed in the same part of the prison. They were both jailed in 2003. Woodland was jailed for 12 years with five years suspended after firing 11 rounds from a Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle at the Moyross home of 'Fat' John McCarthy during a drive-by shooting in August 2002.
. In November 2003, Coffey was sentenced to 15 years in jail with seven suspended for the manslaughter of Eddie Ryan who suffered 11 gunshot wounds.
- Barry Duggan
