GARDAI and the prison services have launched a major investigation after a drugs lord was found dead in his cell at Mountjoy Prison.

The body of Colum Carroll (40) was discovered shortly after 12.45am.

Carroll was originally jailed for 24 years in May, 2004, for possession of €4.5m worth of ecstasy and cocaine but this was reduced to 16 years by the Court of Criminal Appeal a year later.

The 24-year sentence was one of the biggest ever handed down to a drug dealer in the country at the time.

Sped

Carroll of Saint Joseph's View, Riverstown, Glanmire, Co Cork, was charged with a number of counts of possession of drugs.

The first offence occurred at Ballinrea Road, near Carrigaline, on July 3, 2002, when he was found in possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply by detectives were on duty on the Carrigaline road.

Carroll was a front-seat passenger in a car, and when the detectives attempted to stop the vehicle it sped off. As gardai gave chase, they observed Carroll throw a "black refuse bag" out of the vehicle.

When the detectives returned to the area where the bag was dropped they discovered it contained a "bar" of cocaine with a street value of €24,800.

Detectives also found a quantity of cannabis. The seizure in total amounted to €47,000.

On a second occasion, he was found in possession of 500,000 ecstasy tablets when he was stopped by drug squad officers while driving a van at Clonbarrow, Mountrath, Co Laois, on January 16, 2004.

In a more thorough search later at Mayfield Garda Station gardai more drugs inside a spare tyre. The total seizure amounted to well over €4m.

hnews@herald.ie