THE Ministry of Justice has vowed to take “immediate action” following allegations jailed hit-and-run driver Aidan McAteer has used social media in prison.

The Daily Mirror reports claims that McAteer took to Instagram to celebrate his 24th birthday, posting an image of a card apparently given to him by fellow inmates.

The picture appears to show a card that reads “HMP Birthday Boy” – and the post was liked more than 200 times.

The claims are now being looked into by the Ministry of Justice.

McAteer was jailed for nine years and four months for causing the death of four-year-old Violet-Grace Youens by driving dangerously.

Many Star readers feel the sentence was too lenient.

The Fiesta he was driving was travelling at close to 80mph on Prescot Road – which has a 30mph speed limit - when it struck Violet, who was in the arms of her grandmother, Angela French.

Mrs French also suffered life-changing injuries.

It is reported more than a dozen messages have been posted by a private account a_mc_11 since McAteer was jailed in May, though it is reported they have since been removed after being brought to the attention of the Ministry of Justice.

Among the messages appears to be a display of remorse.

The social media activity has led claims that McAteer has access to mobile phones inside prison, which is banned.

The Liverpool Echo quoted a Prison Service spokesperson as saying: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are taking immediate action.

“We are clear that those who break the rules will be punished and can face extra time behind bars.

“We are taking decisive action to find and block mobile phones in prison, including a £2m investment in detection wands and legislation to block phones from being in prisons.”