Exit validation at Pearse

[MOH]

Got off at Pearse last night (northbound), from the second carriage so I'd be beside the exit.
All the turnstiles were showing a red X.

There were a few people on the far side who seemed to be having difficulty getting in. no IE staff in sight.

Walked back to the other set of exits, as I went through I told the guy in the booth that none of the other set were working. He gave me a bit of a disdainful look and said "Yeah, they're all set to entry only" as if I should know this.

Is there some new policy in place whereby the set nearest the front of the train are entry only? Has this been communicated in any way?

(Never mind the fact that they didn't seem to be working for entry either, but the guy I was talking to didn't seem to care much, and I was in too much rush to find someone else to talk to).