Murderer given one month for phone in Portlaoise Prison

A convicted murderer was given an additional one month sentence for having a phone in Portlaoise Prison. 

Sean Carlyle, 30, with an address at Portlaoise Prison, Dublin Road, Portlaoise admitted having a mobile phone in his cell on May 12 last year. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said gardai searched the cell and found the phone on the date in question. 

The defendant, who has 32 previous convictions, refused to talk to gardai about the phone, he said. Sgt Kirby said his last sentence was life for murder earlier this month. 

The defendant told Judge Andrew Cody he was pleading guilty. 

Judge Cody sentenced the man to one month in prison, to run consecutive to the sentence he was serving. 

“One month consecutive to a life sentence. That’s a bit harsh,” the defendant said. 

At the request of Sgt Kirby, Judge Cody ordered the destruction of the phone.