Preventing prisoners from accessing contraband remains a “high priority”, the Prison Service has said after videos emerged of two members connected to the Kinahan cartel having a party in Mountjoy.  

Irish Sun Crime Editor Stephen Breen said that one video appeared to show an inmate looking “disorientated” and there is concern that he was using drugs. 

“On this occasion it related to two individuals who are connected to the Kinahan cartel who had access to a mobile phone,” Mr Breen told The Pat Kenny Show.  

“During the week, they used that phone to film themselves along with another innate inside a cell in Mountjoy Prison. 

“They were filmed laughing, joking and hugging each other. 

“Following the video, they put it up on one of their Instagram pages, so people were able to look at this.

“So, then it was widely shared.” 

Mountjoy.

The use of mobile phones is strictly forbidden in Irish prisons and the Prison Service confirmed to Newstalk that they are aware of the video.  

“They are constantly monitoring mobile phones and they’re constantly looking for different handles and profile pages of some of the prisoners involved,” Mr Breen said.

“On this occasion, they are aware of it, they’re looking into it and if they do establish that a phone was used during the week at a particular time, they will conduct searches of the prison. 

“They often do when the media publish photographs of prisoners from inside prison.” 

FG7W4W A prisoner in prison using a mobile phone behind bars in a cell

Inmates found with contraband face loss of privileges and, in the most serious cases, further charges. 

“They may, indeed, discipline the prisoners in terms of visits, access to the tuck shop and other measures as well,” Mr Breen said.  

“So, they do take it quite seriously and in the past you’ve had prisoners who face criminal prosecutions because they’ve been using mobile phones to continue to run their drug networks.” 

Main image: A prisoner in his cell behind bars in prison. Picture by: Alamy.com