Paul Connolly first to be charged in HMP chapel riot

One man was arrested and charged in connection with the second riot at Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's in less than a year.

Paul Connolly, 32, is the first to be charged following the riot in the prison's chapel in February.

At the time of the incident, sources told CBC News there were several inmates involved.

Connolly, who is also accused of assaulting accused murderer Kenny Green, was arrested over the weekend.

He is charged with damage over $5,000, assaultwith a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and breaches of probation.

It's alleged Connolly assaulted Green with a piece of a church pew during the riot.

Sources told CBC News that Green, 35, was the target of an ambush in the prison's chapel on Feb. 8.

Green is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Joey Whalen last year.

Whalen, 47, died of injuries sustained in an attack at a house on Tessier Place in downtown St. John's in March 2013.

It is not yet known if Green will be charged in connection with the riot.

This riot, and one in August last year, sparked a protest by HMP guards, who raised concerns about their safety.

Justice Minister Darin King announced in early March that guards would start carrying pepper spray, and a metal detector would be installed at the prison to help increase the safety of staff.