Allegations made by John Gilligan that he is being wrongly punished and has been put in a "bunker" in Portlaoise Prison for two months were described as "scandalous" at the High Court yesterday. The court heard claims that Gilligan had threatened to have two prison officers killed.
Gilligan, who is serving a 28year sentence for drugs offences, is alleged to have assaulted a prison officer. He denies the allegation and claims he has lost privileges and is being detained in a "bunker" as punishment.
Yesterday Mr Justice Kelly adjourned Gilligan's application for a number of orders, including one quashing a punishment imposed on him on March 27th.
Mr Justice Kelly allowed affidavits by three officers to be read. In one Mr Martin Ryan, an assistant chief officer, said he and another prison officer were bringing John Gilligan and Brian Meehan to meet a solicitor on Sunday, March 25th, when Gilligan said he wanted the tuck shop opened. He was told the shop was closed, and if he wanted it opened he would have to ask the chief officer.
Gilligan was allowed to return to see the chief officer. When he returned, Gilligan called him obscene names and, without warning, struck him on the jaw and stunned him, Mr Ryan said.
He and another officer went to search Gilligan, who did not want to strip. He said Gilligan told both officers: "I will see that you are f---ing killed for this. I will prove that I am not bluffing. I will see that you are got going from work. You better bear in mind that I will get your families as well."