Prison Officers defused a potential deadly hostage situation by getting a prisoner to give up his shiv in exchange for a Mars bar.
The terrifying incident happed at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, where two inmates took another hostage in a five-hour stand off on Thursday.
The Irish Mirror understands that the victim was told his "ears would be cut off" if a number of demands weren't met.
These demands included prison transfers, contraband and chocolate.
Two inmates took a third hostage in a cell, while a fourth prisoner, who wasn't involved, was also present at the time.
They barricaded themselves in, threatening the hostage, before an emergency Control and Restraint team and negotiators arrived.
After talking down the main culprit, negotiators got him to exchange his weapon in exchange for a Mars bar, defusing the situation.
But negotiators again feared the situation was getting dangerous, with the Control and Restraint team then entering the cell and removing the four prisoners, who only sustained minor injuries.
The attack happened at around 3.30pm, lasting up to five hours.
A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said: "The Irish Prison Service can confirm an incident occurred involving four prisoners in the Midlands Prison on the 20 February 2020.
"Staff responses and the incident was successfully resolved. No staff were injured, prisoners involved received only minor injuries.
"The Director General has commended all staff involved in ensuring that this incident was successfully resolved.
"Senior Management in the Midlands Prison have commenced an investigation into the incident. An Gardaí Siochána were notified."
