Convicted criminal John Gilligan has accused Portlaoise District Court of not carrying out procedures in relation to his detention.
Gilligan is representing himself on charges of possessing a mobile phone and SIM card at Portlaoise Prison on July 30th, 2008.
Speaking at a sitting of the District Court today, Gilligan said he was considering seeking a judicial review in relation to the manner in which he had been remanded.
In sending him directly back to Portlaoise Prison following recent appearances, the court “didn’t carry out the procedures whatsoever”, he argued.
Gilligan maintains the court should have sent him to a remand prison before he was returned to Portlaoise. “This court hasn’t got the jurisdiction to remand me back to Portlaoise Prison,” he commented.
He further accused the court of remanding him in his absence. Gilligan then asked the judge whether a stay would be put on the case in the event of a judicial review.
Judge Gerard Haughton said no stay would be put on the case if Gilligan sought a judicial review in relation to the remands.
The judge said he had no intention of remanding the defendant to Cloverhill simply to have him returned to Portlaoise at the expense of the taxpayer. “If the High Court says I am wrong, then so be it,” added Judge Haughton.
Gilligan will appear before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court on November 12th.