Prisoners suspected of swapping identities to be brought to court

One of the men was due to appear before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, but the wrong prisoner with the same name was produced instead. This is the fourth time the wrong prisoner has been brought to court. The men cannot be named for legal reasons.

“It beggars belief,” Judge Melanie Greally said, when she was informed the wrong prisoner had once again been produced.

She asked that a representative of Cloverhill Prison come to court to explain the matter.

A Prison Service representative appeared shortly afterwards and told Judge Greally that there were two prisoners with the same name currently residing in Cloverhill Prison.

One of the men has a date of birth in December 1976, while the other has a date of birth in March 1971.

“It’s alleged they have been swapping charge sheets to confuse the Prison Service,” the prison officer said. The charge sheet before the court today/yesterday (TUES) was for one count of attempted robbery at a Dublin city centre hotel in 2014.

Judge Greally ordered that both men with the same name be brought to court from Cloverhill Prison today. She said the legal team for the man due to appear in court should then go to the cells and meet both prisoners to identify who was the correct one.

The matter was adjourned to today.

Isabel Hayes, CCC Nuacht