Ex-prisoner may be targeted over mobile phone crackdown

GARDAÍ fear gangland criminal John Daly — who was released from prison on Tuesday — may be targeted by powerful enemies he made while in Portlaoise Prison.

The 27-year-old armed robber from Finglas, north Dublin, caused a crisis within the prison system last May when he used a smuggled mobile phone to call RTÉ’s Joe Duffy show from inside Portlaoise — a maximum security jail.

The incident led to an immediate crackdown on contraband inside Portlaoise resulting in the seizure of mobile phones, plasma televisions, drugs, alcohol and a number of budgies.

It led to greater restrictions on the free movement of major criminals inside the jail, including senior Limerick gangsters and top crime boss John Gilligan.

Sources said this created considerable tension within the prison and Daly was transferred to Cork Prison to serve out the rest of his sentence.

“There are rumours and reports that he might have made enemies inside Portlaoise,” said one Garda source.

He said officers would be keeping a close eye on him.

“We’ll be playing it by ear and see what the reaction will be. It depends more on who he might associate with and who he has fallen out with.” Daly’s family had a big party for him when he arrived back to his home on Cloonlara Drive in Finglas west on Tuesday night.

Garda sources said Daly did not have much of a “crew” intact, but said he had a degree of support locally.

Daly still faces a possible prosecution for use of a mobile phone in prison.

Gardaí said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who would decide if the evidence was there.

Garda sources said prosecutions are usually directed in situations where a prisoner is physically caught using or in possession with a mobile phone. If that isn’t the case, a prosecution can be more difficult.

Daly rang the Joe Duffy show to complain about Sunday World crime journalist, Paul Williams, who was on the programme.