Convicted murderer Brian Rattigan has received a 17-year jail sentence for dealing €1 million worth of heroin from his cell in Portloaise prison, The non-jury court found the 32-year-old formerly of Cooley Road in Drimnagh guilty of possession and supply of the drug in May, 2008.

Mr. Rattigan smiled, chatted and shook the hands of his lawyers and detectives after he was sentenced. He had no comment for the media "You'll only twist it' he said before being led away from court.

He is already serving life for the murder of Declan Gavin. The sentence today will probably not have much impact on his release date.

Defence say he is determined to change

Mr. Justice Paul Butler described the crime of dealing heroin from prison as a very serious matter and could find 'no solid evidence' for the defence's claim that the father of one is determined to change his life.

Mr. Rattigan has been studying behind bars and has taken part in pantomimes like 'Cindarella'. It was a mobile phone message about distributing drugs that linked him to a 5-kilos haul of heroin in Walkinstown 5 years ago.

The sentence has been back-dated to around the time of the offence in 2008.

Outside court Retired Detective Superintendent Denis Donegan formerly based at Crumlin had this warning for any would be dealers.