SHEEDY MOVED AFTER CANNABIS FOUND IN HIS CELL

Philip Sheedy, the architect at the centre of the drink driving
controversy that led to the resignation of two judges, has been moved
to another jail after a cannabis find in his cell.

Sheedy, serving a four-year sentence, was being held in the relatively
relaxed regime of the Curragh, which mainly houses middle-aged sex
offenders. But last night he was back in Arbour Hill in Dublin after
authorities became concerned over the discovery of a small quantity of
cannabis was found hidden behind a TV set in his cell during a routine
search on Wednesday, according to jail sources.

Staff said the amount seized was minor but as the Curragh is a
drug-free prison the authorities decided Sheedy should go to Arbour
Hill.

Each inmate has a TV in his cell at the Curragh where the population
is almost totally comprised of rural-based and older sexual offenders,
particularly clerical offenders.

Sheedy will now have to cope with a tougher regime at Arbour Hill,
which also contains a number of sex abusers.

The former Dublin Corporation architect was sent to Mountjoy initially
when he was sentenced in October 1997 after pleading guilty to
dangerous driving causing death.

After spending the first six months in the training unit there he was
transferred to the low security Shelton Abbey in Arklow.

A decision to release him last November after serving only 13 months
was the crucial factor in the subsequent controversy that led to the
resignation of Supreme Court judge Hugh O'Flaherty, High Court judge
Cyril Kelly and Dublin county registrar Michael Quinlan in April.

After the DPP sought to contest the release in February through a
judicial review, Sheedy withdrew his opposition and voluntarily went
back to Mountjoy.

During a court application for leave to appeal sentence last April,
Sheedy's counsel said events had had a devastating effect on his
client's health.