Gangster “Fat” Freddie Thompson has brought a High Court challenge over what he claims is the “extremely oppressive” regime at Portlaoise.
The convicted killer received a life term last year after his conviction at the Special Criminal Court for murdering David “Daithi” Douglas in 2016.
The 39-year-old, from Dublin’s South inner-city, has been serving his sentence in Wing A4 of Portlaoise jail, which is known as the punishment block.
He claims that in breach of his human rights he is only allowed contact with two other prisoners and spends most of his time effectively on “lock-up” in his cell.
He also alleges he is being denied regular exercise, fresh air and appropriate education which also amounts to a breach of his rights and of prison rules.
He claims that prior to his move to Portlaoise he had always been housed within the general prison population and alleges he is being treated differently to others serving life.
At a hearing yesterday, lawyers for Thompson commenced judicial review proceedings against the governor of Portlaoise, the Irish Prison Service and the Justice Minister aimed at ending his detention away from the mainstream prison population.
Padraig Dwyer described his client’s situation as “unbearable” and said his mental health had been affected.
In correspondence to Thompson’s solicitors, the governor and Irish Prison Service denied his regime was oppressive and said it met all statutory requirements.
But in a sworn statement Thompson, who was not in court, claimed he was “informally told” he had been moved to his current location due to a perceived feud with another prisoner Brian Rattigan.
He said: “Contrary to what is alleged by the prison I am not involved in a feud with Mr Rattigan and any attempt by the prison authorities to use this as an excuse to justify the current conditions of my detention is not correct.”
Permission to bring the challenge was granted, on an ex-parte basis, by Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington. The judge made the matter returnable to a date in September.
