Portlaoise prison officers to undergo tests after being bitten by HIV positive inmate

Three prison officers will reportedly have to undergo tests after they were attacked by an inmate who has previously claimed to be HIV positive. A Garda investigation is underway following the incident in the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise at around 5pm yesterday evening. It is alleged that inmate Lovemore Dube struggled with the three guards as he sought medication at a time when it was not due to be given to him, leading to the 28-year-old Zimbabwean national biting the three officers. Mr Dube sentenced to seven years in jail for raping a woman in 2012, a horrific attack in which he pinned the woman to a bed while telling her that he had HIV and hepatitis C. “The matter is under investigation. The gardaí have also been informed as this constitutes an attack on staff,” said a spokesperson from the Irish Prison Service. “At about 5pm yesterday at Midlands Prison a prisoner was due for relocation,” said a spokesperson from the Irish Prison Service."