HAPPY NO BEER | 

Inmates caught red-handed after they tried to order booze to celebrate New Year

They phoned a delivery service to drop off a stash of spirits and beer, which is prohibited at Loughan House, but were foiled when authorities were alerted to the doomed scheme

Today at 21:00

A trio of inmates at an open prison were caught red-handed after they tried to order a delivery of booze to celebrate the New Year.

They phoned a delivery service to drop off a stash of spirits and beer, which is prohibited at Loughan House, but were foiled when authorities were alerted to the doomed scheme, according to sources.

They had made the call while outside the prison and pretended to be a staff member looking for a delivery to be made.

After making arrangements to meet the driver near the Co Cavan prison the plan fell apart before they could get their hands on the booze.

One of the men allegedly involved is serving time for robbery and has dozens of convictions.

Another is doing a six-year stretch for a similar crime and also has a long list of previous convictions.

Inmates at Loughan House in Co Cavan have the freedom to leave the prison during the day to allow them to take up work, training or go to classes.

Loughan House is usually reserved for trusted prisoners and those coming towards the end of a lengthy sentence to help prisoners to re-integrate back into society.

Those caught with contraband or breaking the rules can expect to be sent back to a medium security prison to serve out the remainder of their sentences.

An Irish Prison Service spokesperson told the Sunday World it “does not comment on matters relating to prison security.”

“However, preventing the access of contraband including alcohol into prisons continues to be a high priority for the Irish Prison Service.

“Prison staff have increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis.”

It was added that “alcohol, including its consumption is prohibited at all prison locations.”

Last October the prison hit the headlines when a violent criminal who walked out of the facility was suspected of carrying out a one-man crime wave across the country.

The inmate, who was subsequently arrested, is being investigated over involvement in a number of armed robberies after fleeing from custody.