Inmate had sim card in Portlaoise Prison

A man who admitted having a phone sim card in prison has been given additional jail time.

Paul Beatty, 36, with an address at Hawthorn Avenue, East Wall, Dublin 1 admitted having a mobile telecommunications device in Portlaoise Prison on February 6 last. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was a serving prisoner who was jailed for seven years in 2018. He said the man, who is due for release in 2024, was cooperative when caught with the sim card. 

A Gardai Detective agreed and said the defendant had also been given a P19 in prison,  meaning all his privileges were removed for a time. 

Mr Fitzgerald said his client was using the sim card to contact his family and not for more sinister purposes. He asked the court to take into account his early plea and the fact that he had been punished with a P19. 

Mr Fitzgerald told Portlaoise District Court that the man had paid his debt to society in relation to his previous offending. 

Judge Andrew Cody said he would take the early plea into account and the fact that it was a sim card and not a phone that had been found. He added one month to the end of the sentence the man is serving and he fixed recognisance in case of appeal.