McDowell: crime being directed from prison mobiles

TÁNAISTE Michael McDowell yesterday conceded there was a serious problem with crime barons directing criminal operations from their prison cells using mobile phone.

Mr McDowell, the Minister for Justice, accepted as much when introducing an amendment to the Prisons Bill in the Dáil. Under the amendment, prisoners found in possession of a “mobile telephone device” could face additional jail terms of up to five years.

The amendment was introduced on the day that the former partner of Baiba Saulite, the Latvian woman shot last year, was arrested in connection with her murder.

Hassan Hassan is one of two prisoners who were arrested in Mountjoy Prison yesterday.

Introducing the amendment, Mr McDowell told the Dáil that prisoners were already prohibited from possessing mobile phones.

“There are increasing concerns that mobile phones are being used by prisoners in contravention of the rules and, much more seriously, to direct or assist in criminal activities outside the prison,” he said.

He continued: “There is a pattern involving individual prisoners with ‘sim’ cards that can be installed in a mobile telephone hidden somewhere on the prison estate, enabling them to have private conversations over the mobile telephone network in a way that was not contemplated.

“This is not an effort to be draconian; it is an effort to protect people outside the prison system from criminal activity directed from within it and to regulate and keep good order in the prison system.”

Labour’s Justice spokesperson Brendan Howlin said that reports of drug overlords running their drug empires from their prison cells were of serious concern.

“I do not know whether these reports are urban myths or the reality, but perhaps the Tánaiste is in a position to provide the House with some details on the extent of the organisation of crime from prisons using mobile technology,” he said.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that the term of imprisonment of up to five years for mere possession of a mobile phone was bizarre but understandable. He said he understood the concerns of the Tánaiste but the scale of imprisonment was out of proportion.

Mr Howlin asked Mr McDowell if he had examined installing an electronic barrier, blocking all mobile calls.

The Justice Minister replied that all such options were being considered.