Governor: Prisoners not allowed keep birds

THE governor of Portlaoise Prison has denied claims by convicted drug criminal John Gilligan that he allowed high-security prisoners to keep budgies and fridges in their cells.

Portlaoise District Court heard yesterday that inmates on the prison’s E1 landing were permitted to keep such items as pet birds and fridges.

Gilligan alleged that the prison governor had allowed 16 budgies and other birds, including a cockatoo and parrot, to be housed on the high-security wing of the facility in February 2007. He also said prisoners were allowed to keep fridges in their cells as well as plasma TVs.