Man had blades in Midlands Prison

A prisoner was caught with two blades in the Midlands Prison. 

Philip Doyle, 48, with an address at Midlands Prison admitted having the blades in the jail on October 8, 2022. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said “he had two blades in his hand” on the date in question. He said the man has 59 previous convictions. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was pleading guilty. He said the man was serving a four year sentence for burglary which commenced in April 2021 and he was due for release on August 23, 2024. 

Mr Fitzgerald said his clients primary difficulty had been heroin but he also had mental health issues. He said the man wasn’t getting medication in prison and had threatened self harm. 

“It was a cry for help more than anything else,”  Mr Fitzgerald told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

He said his client had already been penalised in prison where he lost all of his privileges for 40 days as a result of the incident. 

“There was no sinister element really in terms of a threat to anyone else,” said Mr Fitzgerald. 

“He is hoping you won’t extend the release date,” added Mr Fitzgerald. 

Judge Andrew Cody said possession of blades in prison was a serious offence. However, he accepted that the blades weren’t for use on anyone else and imposed a one month sentence to commence at the end of his sentence. Judge Cody fixed recognisance in case of appeal.