Five people have appeared in court again in connection with an allegation that a mobile phone was smuggled into the prison.

Prison officer Robert Lee Sewell, aged 29, of Lhoobs Road, Eairy, has been committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery on charges of conspiring to introduce articles to the prison, namely a mobile phone, and giving a prohibited article to a detainee.

He has previously entered a ’no plea’ response to the charges and will appear at the higher court on a date to be set.

Bail continues in the sum of £1,000 with conditions that he report to a police station daily and surrender his passport.

Committal has been challenged by advocates representing the other four defendants: Francis Richard Dunne, aged 35, of Burlington Street, Vauxhall, Liverpool, Jamie Mark Smith, aged 32, of Maple Avenue, Onchan, Katie Michelle Smith, aged 29, of Sumark Avenue, Anagh Coar, and Daniella Louise Steventon, aged 33, of Tynwald Terrace, Douglas.

Mr Dunne, Mr Smith, Ms Smith and Ms Steventon have all previously denied an offence of conspiring with others to bring an article, namely a mobile phone, to the prison.

Mr Dunne has also pleaded not guilty to causing another to introduce an article, namely a mobile phone, to the prison.

Mr Smith and Ms Smith, who are brother and sister, have also denied entering into an arrangement involving £1,500 in cash.

Jim Travers, representing Mr Dunne, said that committal was being challenged due to a lack of evidence.

A hearing for the committal challenge for all four defendants will take place on November 26.

Bail continues for Ms Smith and Ms Steventon while Mr Dunne and Mr Smith made no bail application and are remanded in custody.