Mountjoy Prison brothers ‘in frame’ over huge drugs and phones haul

Inquiry: Prison chiefs foiled a plan to smuggle a record haul of drugs, phones and alcohol into Mountjoy. Photo: Colin Keegan/ Collins Dublin

November 26 2020 02:30 AM

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Prison chiefs are investigating if two brothers serving life for murder were involved in a plan to smuggle a record seizure of drugs, phones and alcohol into Mountjoy.

Jason Bradley (22) and his brother Dean (26), of Liscarne Gardens, Clondalkin, are serving time for murdering 36-year-old Neil Reilly in Lucan in 2017.

“An investigation focusing on the brothers’ involvement in this seizure is ongoing,” a jail insider told the Irish Independent. “They have not been disciplined or arrested yet.”

Gardaí helped the Irish Prison Service with the discovery of cocaine with an estimated value of €140,000, tablets believed to be worth up to €20,000 and €5,000 in suspected cannabis herb during the seizure on Tuesday of last week.

The consignment of up to 10,000 tablets, 30 mobile phones, SIM cards, cocaine, steroids, whiskey and Fitbits were found in an intelligence-led operation.

It followed a tip-off which was made by a phone call into Mountjoy Prison from the outside. Investigators believe most of the contraband was destined for Kinahan cartel inmates in the run up to Christmas. The Bradley brothers are not considered members of this organised crime gang.

“A connection between the Bradley brothers and the attempt to smuggle these items into the jail is being actively looked at,” the source added. “It is not thought they were the main organisers of it at this stage but they are in the frame.”

The estimated €170,000 worth of seized contraband would be worth at least double that value in the jail system in which all the items are prohibited.

Sources say despite tensions being high since last week’s seizure there has so far been no violent incidents linked to its discovery.

The contraband was discovered in a van in two boxes which were meant to contain sugar and which were hidden in a pallet.

Irish Independent