Gilligan tells Court prison officer verbally abused him

Convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan told the Special Criminal Court today that a prison officer verbally abused him and told him: "I hope you do every day of 28 years'' after a row over the opening of prison tuck shop.

Gilligan's account was backed up in evidence by Brian Meehan, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996.

Gilligan denied that he assaulted prison officer Martin Ryan during an incident at Portlaoise Prison 10 days after he was jailed for 28 years for drugs offences last year.

He told the court that he had returned to meet prison officer Ryan and fellow prisoner Brian Meehan outside a security gate on their way to a professional visit with their solicitor Mr Joe Rice.

Gilligan said he had been given permission by the Chief Officer for the tuck shop to be opened and he added that this was normal during legal visits and he usually brought the lawyers four Club Milks and four Kit Kats.

Gilligan said that he told prison officer Ryan that he had to open the tuck shop because the Chief had said so.

He said: "You are only a c...t Gilligan, I hope you do every day of your 28 years. I said you are a bigger c...t. He went to push me.''

Gilligan denied that he threatened to kill either prison officer Ryan or prison officer O' Reilly or their families.

Convicted murderer Brian Meehan told the court that during the exchange between Gilligan and prison officer Ryan, the prison officer pushed Gilligan back into him.

Meehan said that he did not hear Gilligan threaten anyone during the incident.

Gilligan has pleaded not guilty to assaulting prison officer Martin Ryan causing him harm at Portlaoise Prison on March 25 last year.

He also denied threatening Mr Ryan that he would be killed and with also threatening prison officer Declan O' Reilly that he would be killed on the same date.

Gilligan is serving a 28 years prison sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court on March 15 last year for importing cannabis resin.

John Gilligan, aged 50, with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare, was convicted of 11 offences of unlawfully importing cannabis resin into the State on various dates between July 1, 1994 and October 6, 1996, that he unlawfully possessed cannabis resin for sale or supply on the same dates and that on or about October 3, 1996 at Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harold's Cross, Dublin he had cannabis resin for sale or supply.

He was cleared of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin on June 26, 1996. The trial is continuing.