EX-PRISON OFFICER PAYS COURT POUNDS 5,000

A former prison officer yesterday paid pounds 5,000 to Dublin District
Court to ensure he does not go to jail for bringing drugs and drink into
inmates. Mark Lynch (31) pleaded guilty on Tuesday to six charges relating
to bringing in cannabis, valium tablets and vodka in 7-Up bottles into
Mountjoy Prison last year.

Judge Mary Collins agreed to a proposal from his lawyer that he could pay
pounds 5,000 to the Anna Livia drugs treatment project as an alternative to
going to prison. Yesterday, after he handed over the money, Judge Collins
remanded him on continuing bail to September for a probation report before
sentencing.

The court heard Lynch felt forced to bring in the drugs and drink because
he feared for his family after some prisoners had obtained information
about where he lived.

Gardai stopped him in his car on the Jamestown Road in Finglas last
December and found two 1.5l 7-Up bottles which he admitted contained a
vodka/soft drink mixture that he was going to bring into Mountjoy. He was
arrested and when gardai searched his car they found enough cannabis to
make 88 hand-rolled cigarettes, 11 valium-based tablets and pounds 50 cash.

He later admitted taking alcohol into the prison on 10 occasions since the
beginning of September 1998 and small amounts of cannabis on three occasions.

He joined the prison service when he was aged 21 and was promoted to
assistant industrial supervisor. The Mountjoy governor, Mr John Lonergan,
praised his work in a reference presented in court. He had since resigned
from the prison service.