Convicted drug dealer John Gilligan has been found guilty of having a mobile phone in his cell at Portlaoise prisom.
Gilligan (58) was sentenced to eight months in prison for possessing a Nokia mobile phone at his cell on July 30th, 2008.
Prison officers searched Gilligan’s cell after an officer heard a conversation late at night on July 29th. 2007. The phone was found along with a mobile phone charger, a number of pills, a syringe bar and two pairs of women’s underwear.
Portlaoise District Court was told Gilligan had spent almost a third of his life in prison and has been behind bars for 18 of the last 20 years.
Counsel for the defence Niall Flynn claimed his client had “changed his character ” since being imprisoned and had even become friendly with some prison officers.
Judge Gerard Haughton, who has presided over the 21 month trial, said he was satisfied that the prosecution had established that the phone was found in the cell.
Phone records proved the phone could only be used by the defendant, thereby establishing possession, he added.
The eight-month sentence is due to begin once Gilligan serves his 22-year sentence for drug dealing. Gilligan had been due for release on April 15th, 2013.