A prison officer told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan punched him in the jaw as he escorted him to a professional visit in Portlaoise Prison last year.
Prison officer Mr Martin Ryan said that he and prison officer Mr Declan O'Reilly were escorting Gilligan and another prisoner, Brian Meehan, to the visiting area for a meeting with their solicitor.
Gilligan asked for the tuck shop to be opened and went with officer O'Reilly to seek permission from the Chief Officer.
He said that Gilligan returned unaccompanied and as a second security gate was opened to let them through, "prisoner Gilligan threatened me and told me I was nothing only a c . . . and a f . . . ing scumbag".
"He also struck me a blow on the left jaw with his clenched fist," Mr Ryan added.
Mr Ryan said Brian Meehan said to Gilligan that there was no need to do that.
Mr Ryan said that later when Gilligan was about to be stripsearched before the professional visit with his solicitor, he "abused and threatened me again and told me that I would be killed".
Mr Ryan said Gilligan said that he and officer O'Reilly would be killed on their way to work and he would prove he wasn't joking.
Gilligan also said he would "get" Mr Ryan's and Mr O'Reilly's families.
Mr Ryan said he and his family took the threats very seriously because of Gilligan's "form".
He added: "Myself and my family are still seeing a psychiatrist."
Mr Ryan said he went to the prison surgery for treatment for his injury and was sent home from duty.
Gilligan has pleaded not guilty to assaulting prison officer Martin Ryan causing him harm at Portlaoise Prison on March 25th last year.
He also denies threatening Mr Ryan that he would be killed and threatening prison officer Declan O'Reilly that he would be killed on the same date.
Gilligan is serving a 28-year prison sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court on March 15th last year for importing cannabis resin.
Gilligan (50), with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare, was convicted of 11 offences of unlawfully importing cannabis resin into the State on various dates between July 1st, 1994 and October 6th, 1996, of unlawfully possessing cannabis resin for sale or supply on the same dates, and that on or about October 3rd, 1996, at Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harold's Cross, Dublin, he had cannabis resin for sale or supply.
He was cleared of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin on June 26th, 1996.
The trial continues today.