INMATE HENDERSON LOWE testifying before the Commission of Inquiry.

HENDERSON LOWE got a "washing off" he never expected, after informing on a number of fellow inmates who were involved in a riot at Glendairy Prisons two years ago.

Lowe told a Commission of Inquiry he personally saw inmates Keimar Payne and Miguel Archer lighting fires on March 29, 2005, and he paid the price for tesifying against them in a court case.

Lowe said calling the names of persons he saw lighting fires had put his life at risk, since he was "washed off" (beaten) by more than 30 prisoners when taking a bath at a temporary facility in Six Roads, St Philip, which was used after the prison was razed. He suffered a broken jaw from the attack, but claimed no one was punished for the actions.

The witness said he saw numerous inmates set fire to cells at the facility that day, using cigarette lighters to burn mattresses.

According to Lowe, he was also handed ignition keys and told to drive a tractor through the wall, but refused, saying he didn't know how to drive a tractor.

He said inmates were searched after the riot was quelled on the first day, but were able to light fires again on March 30, because they had items stashed in their cells.

He said no prison officers were around when inmates relit a number of buildings at Glendairy that day.

Lowe also said he believed the riot could have been prevented the day before, had more members of the prison's Canine Unit been utilised. "The prisoners are very afraid of the dogs, so I know that would have brought the situation under control," he said.

Lowe said a number of older inmates refused to get involved in the riot, including Peter Bradshaw and Theophilus Pile.