Inmates pictured partying in cell with drugs and booze amid fears a gun could be smuggled in by drone

An investigation has been launched over a video of inmates openly partying with drugs and booze behind bars.

The Irish Mirror has obtained a video showing prisoners brazenly showing off a haul of drugs and hooch which are believed to have been smuggled inside via a drone.

Sources have confirmed that the video was filmed from within a cell at Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison, and an internal investigation has now been launched to identify those responsible.

In the footage three lags can be seen dancing to rap music and showing off a series of illegal phones, packages, bottles of booze and tubes of suspected cannabis.

A Playstation controller, small TV and Bob Marley posters are also seen in the clip, with the front door of the cell also visible. One of the prisoners can also be seen brandishing what appears to be a knife.

Sources say it is suspected the video was filmed and uploaded to certain social media accounts by prisoners who are now openly boasting about their ability to get contraband inside.

The video shows inmates showing off items smuggled into prison

It comes as the Irish Mirror revealed two incidents in the past fortnight in which thugs were showing off their ability to fly a drone right over the yard of Wheatfield Prison and drop the drugs to the prisoners below.

Sources say there is now a real concern at the ease at which prisoners seem to be able to order drugs, phones and other contraband and have it dropped in via drone.

“These drones are incredibly difficult to detect,” a source said. “The prison service is in new territory with this and really it is an uphill battle.

“There is a net there over the yard and there are various sophisticated methods being put in place to detect drugs, but the reality is they’re still getting in.

Sources also expressed concern that the drones could drop other items – such as weapons, inside. “That’s the real concern, that these things could end up dropping a firearm or some other weapon inside,” one source said.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service declined to comment on what is now a spate of incidents at Wheatfield Prison in recent weeks, citing “security and operational reasons.”

However the spokesperson did point to an already issued general statement on contraband, citing that new technologies and methods are being brought in to increase detection.

“The Irish Prison Service is committed to preventing the access of contraband including drugs into prisons and continues to be a high priority for the Irish Prison Service. The Irish Prison Service has committed to continuing to invest in new technologies and measures to support our efforts to keep contraband out of prisons,” it said.

“Prison staff have increased the use of random and intelligence led cell searches on a daily basis. Our Canine Unit carry out searches around the prisons, including a greater focus on searching deliveries into prisons.

“The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with An Garda Síochána with regard to preventing contraband entering our prison and this happens at both local and national level. The Operational Support Group work closely with their colleagues in An Garda Síochána on a regular basis and the sharing of intelligence has led to target searches resulting in the seizure of contraband.

“There is a free confidential telephone line(1800 855 717) and text line (086 180 2449)which is operational. Prisoners, visitors, staff or members of the public with information on the trafficking of prohibited items into our prisons can pass on that information in the strictest confidence,” they added.

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