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THE NUMBER OF mobile phones seized in Irish prisons increased to 648 last year despite enhanced security measures designed to prevent contraband from being smuggled into jails.
Earlier this week, an inmate at Mountjoy Prison was sentenced to an additional two months in jail for having a phone hidden down the back of a toilet in his prison cell.
It was the second time that Leroy Dumbrell (30) of Emmett Road, Inchicore had been caught with a contraband phone during his current seven-year sentence for violent disorder and threatening to kill a garda.
It is illegal to be in possession of a phone while in prison and visitors are required to undergo rigorous security screening before entering any of the State’s 14 places of detention.
However, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the number of phones seized by prison officers increased by 22 last year to 648 – an average of 12 phones every week.
More than 28% of these (183) were seized at Mountjoy Prison, while Limerick Prison accounted for another 119 of the total haul. A further 89 mobile phones were seized at Midlands Prison in Portlaoise.
No contraband phones were seized at the Dóchas Centre, where female offenders are jailed or at Arbour Hill in Dublin, which is a medium-security prison predominantly populated by inmates serving long-term sentences.
Enhanced security measures had seen a dramatic reduction in the number of contraband phones entering the prison system – falling from 2,174 in 2008 to 626 in 2015.
However, the number of seized handsets increased last year for the first time since the establishment in of a dedicated unit to combat contraband in Irish prisons in May 2008.
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has said that changes and advancements in technology had presented new challenges for security staff tasked with preventing contraband from being smuggled into jails.
The availability of tiny phones that can be disguised as everyday objects has made it increasingly difficult for prison officers to prevent the flow of such items into the prison system.
Mobile phones that mimic the appearance of car keys can now be purchased online for as little as €40, and are being passed to inmates during prison visits.
“By enhancing our security measures over recent years, we have seen year-on-year reductions in the levels of contraband – including mobile phones – being seized across the prison estate,” said an IPS spokesperson.
Our security staff remain vigilant and are constantly aware of changes in this area including the emergence of new technologies. Security equipment is constantly tested and recalibrated to keep pace with these changes.
All mobile phones seized by prison officers are handed over to An Garda Síochána, the spokesperson said.
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Why not deduct the tabs from their salary?? They are doing it to us
Yup, all they’d have to do is provide their PPS number. I’m sure that wouldn’t be an issue.
A tactic often used by governments when introducing new charges or taxes is to tell us how the same charges are already the norm in a selection of other countries. The intention being to highlight the fact that we are ‘behind’ these other countries.
I’d like to know now, how many other countries have a pub in their parliament?
Bad news for you there, a lot of parliaments have bars. There are several in Westminster, and I saw one on the roof level of the Reichstag building on a trip to Berlin.
But I somehow doubt you’ll be allowed run up a tab, or create a lapgate, anywhere else.
There should be no “tabs” in the Dail bar and those with Tabs should be charged interest at the same rate the revenue demands from the people living in this country.
There should be no pub in the Dáil, never mind ‘tabs’.
In fairness, they’re all on high salaries so it’s safe for the bar to give credit on the basis that “They’re good for it”.
These piss heads are so out of touch with ordinary joe soap…
And the ‘ordinary Joe soap’ won’t don’t a thing about it.
@ Jason: Hear, hear.
What a bunch of absolute pigs.
Amen
Ale sucking degenerate pigs
“Attention fellow TD’s”
“An important piece of legislation has to be passed”
“Lets have a €7,000 allnighter p1ss up”
“Yehaw”
Writing off people’s debts will certainly help that.
Bunch of round dodgers
7k bill during a night of discussion and related work…..so….drunk at work :They get a tab…. We get fired….yeap that’s fair…
Why don’t they just name those that didn’t pay their bill?
Should be drug and alcohol testing before these bofoons make huge decisions affecting the whole country.
Why are they allowed drink at work? Anybody else pissed at work gets fired.
Pity they don’t stay in the bar all day. Results would be better without them and at least they would have an excuse for the crap answers the give in the dail
Fall in tabs,is that a vote after
‘LAPGATE’!
Who cares?
Lots of people care. How come they aren’t as enthusiastic about fines and interest as they are if one of us plebs owes a bit of tax?
Tab
They get it all back in expenses then!
I wonder will claims for the months the Dail wasn’t sitting be the same as the months it does?
That reminds me, I must drop in to Lidl next time I’m passing and pay for that two-litre bottle of Woodgate Cider from last month.
That picture deserves an award.
#politicalreform
Tax almost rhymes with fax, maybe they could fax tax back whilst sitting in the jacks.?! Hmmm possible resolution in the making..!
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