President of the Prison Officers Association (POA) Gerard Gordon has pushed back against what he describes as a deliberate attempt to “­create a bacchanal” over the presence of a television in a prison facility.

According to Gordon, the device could not have been placed there without the express approval of the Commissioner of Prisons.

“No PO (prison officer) can bring in a TV. It’s the Commissioner who would have to authorise that,” Gordon said, addressing widespread commentary following statements made on Wednesday by Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge.