Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Michael O'Toole

Inmate, 25, found dead at Castlerea Prison named - as he is believed to have passed away in his sleep

Prison bosses have launched an investigation after this inmate was found dead in his cell early on Thursday.

The Irish Mirror has confirmed that Donegal man Keith Boyle, 25, was found dead in his bed at Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon and is believed to have died in his sleep.

Sources say there is no suggestion of foul play.

READ MORE: Young inmate found dead at Castlerea Prison as investigation launched

Investigators are now awaiting the results of a post mortem.

Mr Boyle, who was from Letterkenny, was serving a 15 months jail term for drugs offences when he died. He had been jailed by Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court last October and was due to be released by the end of September.

A full investigation has now been launched into the circumstances of his death. A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service confirmed the incident.

"The Irish Prison Service can confirm that there was a death in custody of a person in the custody of the Irish Prison Service on 26th January 2023 and the next of kin have been notified", a statement said.

"This death in custody will be investigated by the Irish Prison Service, The Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána, where circumstances warrant. The cause of death is determined by the Coroner’s Office."

In September 2018, he was jailed for nine months after he went on a crime spree in a town. He appeared before Letterkenny District Court in Donegal charged with a litany of offences arising out of his addiction to alcohol.

Boyle, of Derryveagh Avenue in Letterkenny, appeared in court already having a total of 49 previous convictions.

The charges included making threats with a knife, stealing two mobile phones, possessing a stolen social welfare card, stealing alcohol, threatening staff at a takeaway and stealing alcohol.

Other charges included causing €650 of damage to two gaming machines, being involved in a hit and run and public order offences.

Less than a month later on October 17, 2017, he struck a worker at The Grill takeaway on Port Road in Letterkenny when asked to leave and returned a short time later with a piece of timber and smashed a window.

On one occasion on September 27, 2017 he went to a house at Thornberry in Letterkenny and told a woman that her son owed him €200 and produced a knife from inside his jacket.

When the woman’s husband appeared, he fled in a taxi and later represented himself to Gardai.

READ NEXT:

Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.