Martin ‘Cramps’ Salinger – a horse-and-carriage driver from Dublin – had been on remand in the prison since mid-August when he was arrested after a handgun and €20,000 worth of cannabis were discovered at a property in Ballyfermot
Martin ‘Cramps’ Salinger – a horse-and-carriage driver from Dublin – had been on remand in the prison since mid-August when he was arrested after a handgun and €20,000 worth of cannabis were discovered at a property in Ballyfermot, on the city’s southside.
He was being housed on a cell on the D1 landing with two other inmates when prison officers were alerted by a row in the cell shortly before 5.30am.
Sources said by the time officers managed to get into the cell, Salinger had sustained a number of wounds from a makeshift weapon known as a ‘shiv’.
A second inmate in the cell had also sustained a number of slash wounds.
Both men received emergency medical care after the third individual was removed by officers – however, it’s understood Salinger’s injuries were too severe and officers were unable to save him.
A ‘shiv’ was recovered from the cell. The area was sealed off and gardaí called. A forensic examination of the cell was being carried out yesterday.
Last night, a man in his 30s was arrested by gardaí on suspicion of Salinger’s murder. A garda spokesman said he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in West Dublin
The D1 landing in Cloverhill is a segregation or protection landing in the prison.
Salinger and his two cellmates had been accommodated on the wing as all three were regarded as ‘troublesome or unruly’.
Sources could not confirm yesterday claims circulating in Ballyfermot that Salinger had been the subject of an assault in the prison in recent days or that he may have been under a drugs-related threat.
However, it’s understood checks had been done prior to Salinger and his two cellmates being housed together to establish whether there was any reason they should be kept apart.
“There was nothing going on between any of the three inmates and nothing that would suggest housing them together could have led to a tragedy like this,” a source said.
Salinger was charged in connection with a gun and drug seizure on August 17.
A handgun and approximately €20,000 worth of cannabis, over which he was facing trial, were recovered by the Dublin Crime Response Team with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit, at a property in Ballyfermot on August 15.
Gun seized in Ballyfermot
Sources said yesterday that overcrowding may have played a role in yesterday morning’s murder and were critical of the fact that three inmates had been housed together in a cell on a segregation wing.
Martin Salinger was a well-known figure among horse and carriage drivers in the city.
He was the registered owner of Dublin Horse Drawn Carriages – a family business which was first started by his great grandfather, Michael Salinger.
As well as working from outside the Guinness Storehouse, he was licensed for pick-ups at St Stephen’s Green.
Martin Salinger
Born and raised in The Liberties, his company was registered as operating from Ballyneety Road in Ballyfermot.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Irish Prison Service extended its sympathies to his family.
“The Irish Prison Service can confirm the death of a person in custody in Cloverhill Prison on 5, October 2024,” the statement said.
“This incident is being investigated by An Garda Síochána and it would not be appropriate to comment further.
“All deaths in custody are also investigated by the office of the Inspector of Prisons.
“The Irish Prison Service wish to express our condolences to the deceased’s family and friends.”
Garda Síochána also issued a statement saying: “Gardaí at Ronanstown are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the death of a prisoner at Cloverhill Prison in Dublin on Saturday, 5th October 2024.
“Shortly after 5.30am, gardaí and emergency services were alerted by prison authorities to an incident within the prison.
“A man in his 40s, who was injured during the incident, received treatment from emergency services but was pronounced deceased a short time later.
“A Garda Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed to lead the investigation and a Family Liaison Officer has been assigned to the family of the deceased.”
