High Court ruling clears way for dismissal of trainee prison officer over cocaine found in his room

A room in which the trainee was using was found to have three plastic bags containing a white powdery residue, later found to be cocaine, in the drawer of a bedside locker

Eddie Campbell, who was employed in Portlaoise Prison, was provided with a room in the prison for the first six weeks of his training between April and June, 2022. File photo: Graham Hughes/RollingNews.ie

The High Court has cleared the way for the dismissal of a trainee prison officer after traces of cocaine were found in a bedside locker of accommodation he was provided with as part of his training.

Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy found Eddie Campbell, who was employed in Portlaoise Prison, had not made out a strong case against his dismissal which was likely to succeed. He therefore refused to continue an injunction restraining his dismissal.