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Prison officer arrested after drugs seized in raid on Dublin home

Sources said there is widespread shock in the Dublin prison today where the officer had been based for the past number of years

Patrick O’Connell

Today at 14:44

A PRISON OFFICER in Mountjoy Prison is in garda custody today following the seizure of a major stash of drugs at a property in north Dublin.

The officer’s address was raided by officers on Thursday evening and a substantial quantity of drugs in pill form were recovered.

Sources said there is widespread shock in the Dublin prison today where the officer had been based for the past number of years.

The officer’s arrest follows that of several other staff members working in Dublin prisons over the past 12 months.

Contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said: “It would not be appropriate for the Irish Prison Service to comment on matters relating to any individual staff member.

“The Irish Prison Service sets high standards in respect of its staff and requires that all staff carry out their duties with integrity, commitment and professionalism.

“The vast majority of staff adhere to these standards at all times.

“In circumstances where the conduct of a staff member does fall below the high standards expected, this is treated with the utmost seriousness in accordance with the Civil Service Code of Discipline.”

This evening, a Garda spokesperson said gardaí from the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) conducted a search under warrant at a residence in Ballymun, Dublin 11, on Thursday, February 8.

The spokesperson confirmed that in excess of €2,000 of controlled drugs in tablet form were seized in addition to €1,200 in cash.

“A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with this seizure and he is currently being detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at a Dublin City Garda Station,” the Garda spokesperson said.

All of the drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis.

Gardai added that investigations are ongoing.