An application by convicted killer Freddie Thompson for the disclosure of a number of documents in advance of his upcoming trial for assault and threats to kill has been refused.
The 43-year-old, who appeared at Portlaoise Circuit Court via video-link, is serving a life sentence for the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas who was shot dead in his partner's shoe shop in Dublin in July 2016.
Thomspon is charged with three separate offences including assault causing harm and two allegations of making threats to kill in Portlaoise Prison on separate dates in 2022.
His lawyers made an application for the disclosure of a number of documents in advance of his upcoming trial including the Naughton Report.
This was carried out after Freddie Thompson made a complaint to the Governor of Portlaoise Prison in May 2019 about three prison officers constantly undermining the three senior officers and their work.
His legal team also wanted information about complaints made about prison officers and any reviews carried out of conditions in Block A.
Giving his judgment today, Judge Keenan Johnson said Thompson is denying the offences alleging there is a conspiracy against him by some prison officers.
He said Freddie Thompson is resident of Block A in Portlaoise prison, which is used to house the most violent prisoners in the country.
Judge Johnson said the prison service refused to disclose the information for security and operational reasons.
The judge said he is satisfied that disclosure of the documents is not justified for a number of reasons, including that doing so could put other parties at risk.
He said the documentation requested is not relevant to the defence of the accused.
Mr Thompson’s barrister said the issue of complaints made against prison officers had not been dealt with in the judgment.
The judge was told there are no reports on the pulse system but the State agreed that if any information was found in prison files it would be disclosed.
The case has been put back to 7 October in Tullamore Courthouse for a trial date to be set
The judge agreed to Freddie Thompson’s request to be present on 7 October.
The trial is taking place in Tullamore after Thompson failed in a bid to have it heard in the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.
It was originally to take place in Portlaoise but he claimed that his life is under threat because of his conviction for the murder of David Douglas in 2016.
Thompson had raised serious concerns for his personal safety as he is brought from a prison van through a public area to the court in Portlaoise.
