Melanie McCarthy-McNamara killer gets extra month for phone in jail

Daniel McDonnell (27) was sentenced to one month in prison when he appeared in custody before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court.

The defendant, with a previous address at Brookview Lawn in Tallaght, admitted to possession of a mobile phone at Wheatfield Prison, Cloverhill Road in Clondalkin, on July 20, 2022.

The court heard the defendant had a number of previous convictions.

His defence said McDonnell was serving a life sentence. He had co-operated with authorities, the court heard.

McDonnell received a mandatory life sentence in 2014 after he was found guilty by a jury of killing teenager Melanie McCarthy-McNamara.

The 16-year-old was shot in the head as she sat in a car with her boyfriend and a friend at Brookview Way in Tallaght on February 8, 2012.

McDonnell had denied murdering Melanie, but he wrote two letters while in custody that were used as evidence.