Attempted murderer caught with drugs between his legs in prison

Isabel Hayes

An attempted murderer who is serving a 22-year sentence for trying to shoot Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch's brother has been sentenced after he was caught with drugs between his legs in prison.

Michael Carroll (46) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court in 2023 for opening fire on John Hutch in September 2016 and attempting to murder another man in early 2017. Hutch was not harmed in the attack. He died a number of years later in an unrelated accident in his home.

Carroll, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of possessing cannabis and heroin for supply in his jail cell in Mountjoy Prison on July 24, 2023. The drugs were concealed between his legs when officers searched his cell, the court heard.

He has 54 previous convictions including the two attempted murders, possessing a firearm with intent and further firearms, robbery and drug offences.

A detective garda told Brian Storan, prosecuting, that Carroll was caught with 28g of cannabis and 22.5g of heroin between his legs during a routine search of his cell on the day in question. The drugs had a combined value of €3,720.

Carroll was co-operative with prison officers and gardaí, the court heard.

Alan Delany, defending, said Carroll suffered a burst spleen when first imprisoned and developed addiction issues as a result. The drugs did not belong to him and he was holding them for other people due to a drug debt, the court heard.

Carroll is an enhanced prisoner who has completed a number of violence prevention courses and now runs the course, defence counsel said. He has engaged in restorative justice and is involved in the prison school and gym.

Sentencing Carroll, Judge Orla Crowe said it was a “particularly egregious circumstance, to be found in possession of drugs for sale or supply in prison”. She noted he has a high number of previous convictions and his current release date is in 2038.

“He has done a considerable amount of courses in custody and is using his time to good avail,” the judge said, noting Carroll has also completed his Leaving Certificate along with first aid and food preparation courses.

She set a headline sentence of three years, which she reduced to two years taking mitigating factors into account.

She backdated the sentence to May this year when Carroll entered the guilty pleas.