Gilligan threatened to kill prison officers, court told

The High Court heard today that convicted drug dealer John Gilligan threatened to have two prison officers and their families killed after he allegedly assaulted one of them.

Mr Martin Ryan, the prison officer who alleges he was punched by Gilligan, said in an affidavit that Gilligan hurled abuse at him when he told him the prison tuck shop would not be opened for him prior to a visit with his lawyers on March 25th.

Gilligan then attacked him, punching him once on the left side of the face, he said.

He said Gilligan was restrained by Brian Meehan, another prisoner he was escorting at the same time.

Mr Ryan said that as they tried to strip-search Gilligan after the alleged attack he threatened to have him and his colleague, Mr Declan O’Reilly, killed on their way to work.

"Not content with threatening us personally, he threatened to kill our families," Mr Ryan said in the statement.

Mr Ryan was treated after the attack at Portlaoise General Hospital. He has been on sick leave ever since, the court was told.

The deputy governor of Portlaoise Prison said in an affadavit that he did not see the incident and "was aware of it only by report".

He said, however, that the charges were "an extremely serious breach of prison discipline".

Gilligan is being held in what was described in court on Tuesday as a "bunker" in the prison as punishment following the alleged assault. He is scheduled to stay there for two months.

The affidavits were heard in the High Court during an application for a judicial review by lawyers for Gilligan over the punishment and his subsequent loss of privileges.

Lawyers for Gilligan claimed in the High Court on Tuesday their client’s punishment and loss of privileges were imposed without him being granted right of reply. This was unconstitutional, it was argued.

Gilligan was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court last month to 28 years in prison after being convicted of importing and having cannabis resin for sale and supply.

An appeal is pending.