A MAN has appeared in court charged with assault and threats to kill an officer in Ireland’s top security prison.
Frederick Thompson, 43, is alleged to have committed two offences of threatening to kill and another of assault causing harm at Portlaoise Prison in Co Laois in May last year.
Thompson appeared at Portlaoise District Court yesterday morning in front of Judge Andrew Coady.
Detective Garda Padraig Ryan told the court he charged Thompson, formerly of South Dublin but with a current address at the Midlands Prison in Co Laois, yesterday morning.
The detective told the court: “I cautioned Mr Thompson, he made no reply to the charge sheets.”
Thompson, who represented himself in court, is charged with one count of threatening to kill and one count of assault causing harm inside Portlaoise Prison on November 17 last year.
He faces another charge of threatening to kill at the same prison on May 18 last year.
The alleged injured party named senior prison officer.
Judge Cody initially said he was remanding the case to March 14, but Mr Thompson then asked the court: “How long is that for? I am looking for a two-week remand if possible. It is going back.”
When asked to clarify if he wanted a two week remand, he said: “Please, yeah.”
He was then told the case would be put back for service of a book of evidence, which means it will be heard in front of a judge and jury if the trial goes ahead.
The case was adjourned to 10.15am on February 28 for service of the book of evidence.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for assault causing harm is five years in prison.
And the maximum sentence for threatening to kill is 10 years.