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.