A prisoner believes he could be "shot dead" at Portlaoise Courthouse

A Portlaoise Prison inmate who has been linked to the Kinahan Hutch criminal feud applied to have his trial moved due to his “serious concerns” for his safety at Portlaoise Circuit Court. 

Frederick Thompson(44) with an address, care of the Midlands Prison, believes he could be “shot dead” if he is tried at Portlaoise Circuit Court. 

He is alleged to have threatened to kill or cause serious harm to a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison, Dublin Road, Portlaoise on May 18, 2022. 

He is further charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the same officer and assaulting the officer causing harm at Portlaoise Prison on November 17, 2022. 

Thompson appeared at Portlaoise Circuit Court this week via video link where he requested to have his trial transferred to Dublin due to his fears over security at the courthouse on Main Street in Portlaoise. 

Patrick McCarthy BL said his client had sworn an affidavit outlining his fear for his own personal safety at the courthouse in Portlaoise. 

Mr McCarthy read the affidavit where the defendant had said “my life is in danger” and when “the prison van to the courthouse arrives there is no direct access to the court”. 

Portlaoise Courthouse is not as modern as some of the more recently built courthouses, said Mr McCarthy, who noted “it doesn’t have modern facilities for security either.”

He said there were no checks or metal detectors for members of the public entering the courthouse building. 

“He highlights that he believes the only way this issue can be dealt with is by transfer,” said Mr McCarthy. 

“It could be transferred to Tullamore and there is very good facilities there,” said Judge Keenan Johnson.

Mr McCarthy said the trial should be sent to Dublin if it is to be transferred anywhere. Mr Thompson said the threat on his life is “consistently cited” as the reason why a transfer to Wheatfield Prison was being refused.  

William Fennelly BL said the defendant had an application seeking a transfer back in June of 2024. On that occasion it had been argued that there would be an element of “local prejudice” if he were tried in Portlaoise for a crime allegedly committed in Portlaoise. 

Mr Fennelly said under the provision of Section 32(1) of the 1995 Act cited for the application, the decision of the circuit court was final and unappealable. He argued that this application was therefore already made and had been refused and could not be brought again. “His rights under Section 32 are spent,” Mr Fennelly claimed.

Mr McCarthy said “there is a different issue being put forward” in this case. He said the application was being made in light of concerns for personal safety. He said the court should act if there was a risk to his client.  

“He is in custody. The State have an obligation to make sure that he is safe,” said Mr McCarthy. 

Thompson gave sworn evidence that his life was under threat. 

“My life could be in danger if it is held in that court,” he said. 

He said the last time he appeared four members of the media ran up to him and took pictures. 

“There is a possibility that I could be shot dead getting out of the prison van,” Thompson said. 

Detective Garda Padraic Ryan said Portlaoise was a unique area in that gardaí there provide regular transport for hospital and court appearances for prisoners from Portlaoise Prison.

“There has never been an issue with the court,” he said. 

“There is a security plan put in place for Mr Thompson and for the security of the court,” he said. 

Det Ryan said the security involves armed gardaí as well as uniformed members at the courthouse. He said the defendant had appeared in Portlaoise on three occasions already. 

“There has never been an issue with Mr Thompson,” he said. 

Det Ryan said the defendant was “in a jovial mood” with photographers on the last occasion and there was never any security risk. He said while the media were present, members of the public had not been allowed into the rear of the court.  

“There is a risk security assessment carried out by management of Portlaoise gardaí,” said Det Ryan. He described it as a “significant” security operation. 

Mr McCarthy asked Det Ryan if he was aware of the Hutch Kinahan feud and the “large number of murders” associated with the feud. He noted there had been instances of “people dressing as members of An Garda Siochana.” 

Judge Johnson noted that Mr McCarthy was referring to the attack in the Regency Hotel in Dublin where gunmen posed as gardaí.

“The gangs that are being referred to operate on a very high level,” said Mr McCarthy. 

Det Ryan said resources are deployed including armed gardaí in order to provide security.

He said the defendant is “a member of the Kinahan gang” and there is also a flight risk. 

“There is a security assessment done. Whatever is necessary is done,” said Det Ryan. 

He explained that he couldn’t go into the exact details of security for maximum security prisoners. 

“You are saying there will be armed guards in court?” asked Mr McCarthy. 

He then asked about the photographers on the previous occasion and whether they were known to Det Ryan. He said they weren’t known to him personally but it had been clear they were members of the media. 

Judge Johnson asked if the defendant was subject to any specific threats. 

“I am not privy to specifics of threats,” said Det Ryan. 

“He is a flight risk as well when he is moved,” he told Judge Johnson. 

Mr McCarthy said the Courts of Criminal Justice in Dublin were more secure, were equipped with metal detectors and had underground access for prison vans.

“I would say the Portlaoise Courthouse is more than capable,” said Det Ryan. 

Thompson said it is “putting my life in danger” to bring him to Portlaoise Courthouse. 

“There is a threat on my life. If you ring the headquarters in Phoenix Park they know about the threat,” he said. 

Mr McCarthy said he would have an issue with jurors or potential jurors seeing armed gardaí in the court. He pointed out that such security is separated in the Central Criminal Courts. 

“Mr Thompson’s life is at risk due to a serious ongoing feud,” said Mr McCarthy. 

Mr Fennelly said “there is obviously security information that I am not in a position to ventilate in open court.” 

“This case concerns an incident in the prison, that is why it is here,” he said. He said the case has already been before the courthouse on a number of occasions. 

“I don’t believe there has ever been a security issue at Portlaoise court,” said Mr Fennelly. 

Mr McCarthy described his client as a high profile prisoner and he said high ranking gardaí are aware of the threat to his life. 

“There is a significant risk to his life. The question is can that adequately be dealt with by security experts in this court,” he said. 

He said there was a facility specifically designed to deal with such threats in Dublin and the case should be held there. 

“I think it would be pragmatic if the court accepts that. He is someone who could be at significant risk,” said Mr McCarthy.  

He said the trial would take four to five days to complete and it would be reported on by the media and this would “amplify” the risk. This would mean his client’s whereabouts would be broadcast daily during that time, he said. 

The defendant spoke about the death of David Byrne who was shot dead in a hotel in Dublin. He said the State can’t "make that mistake" and let something like that happen to him.

Judge Johnson said he required time to consider matters. He said he would give his decision at Portlaoise Circuit Court on Thursday, January 23 and the defendant could appear again via video link.