Prisoners charged over having a mobile phone in jail

NINE prisoners were charged yesterday with possession of a mobile phone in jail — the first prosecutions under new laws.

The inmates were all in custody when they appeared in Cloverhill Dublin District Court.

Gardaí told the court that two of the nine had pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of a mobile phone when charged by gardaí. The remainder either had nothing to say when charged or made no reply. One of the inmates was granted bail. Gardaí had no objection to bail in the remaining cases, but applications were not made.