No extra time for criminal who had mobile phone in cell at Limerick Prison

A YOUNG man who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for firearms offences has received a one month sentence for having a mobile phone in his cell.

Nathan Ring, aged 23, whose last address was at St Michael’s Place, Ballinasloe, Galway is currently serving a four year sentence after he was convicted, in April 2016, of suspicious possession of an improvised shotgun and ammunition at McDonagh Avenue, Janesboro on September 12, 2014.

The defendant was brought before Limerick District after he was arrested and charged with possession of a mobile phone at Limerick Prison on June 9.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy said his client, who has a young child, had the device “in a desperate attempt to keep in touch with family”.

He said Ring, whose family are originally from Ballinacurra Weston, accepts he should not have had the phone in prison but insisted his motivation was “not nefarious” and that he did not have it for any sinister purpose.

Judge Marian O’Leary was told the defendant was punished within the prison system and that he lost all of his privileges for 28 days after the phone was located and seized from him.

Noting the length of Ring’s current sentence and his scheduled release date next year, the judge said she would not add to the sentence.

She imposed a one month prison sentence, which is to be served concurrently to the firearms offence.