Courts / Limerick / Report
Fat Freddie brings further action over prison conditions
Summary
Convicted murderer Freddie Thompson, also known as 'Fat Freddie', brought a High Court action against the Governors of Limerick and Portlaoise Prisons, the Irish Prison Service, and the Minister for Justice. Thompson, who received a life sentence in 2018 after being found guilty of the 2016 murder of David Douglas, alleges that prison authorities failed to respond to his solicitors' questions regarding his detention conditions. He claims his transfer to Limerick Prison, where he was reportedly confined to a padded cell without clothing, constitutes a punishment without a disciplinary hearing or formal sanction paperwork. Thompson further alleges that previous complaints about mistreatment in Portlaoise, including sleep deprivation and excessive searches, were upheld but the investigator's report was never provided to him. His legal team argues that the failure to update him on complaint statuses and answer queries regarding his detention is contrary to law, the Prison Rules, and natural justice. They seek an order compelling the respondents to reply to their questions and declarations that the authorities have a legal duty to respond to concerns about a prisoner's detention. The matter came before Mr Justice Anthony Barr, who granted Thompson permission to bring the action on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court in late December.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Fat Freddie brings further action over prison conditions. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- October 9th Other
- April 2021 Other
- November 2019 Other
- 2021-11-15 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Outcome: Photo: Collins) Convicted murderer Freddie Thompson has brought a High Court action over an alleged failure by prison authorities to respond to his questions about the conditions of his detention in Limerick Prison.; The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court in late December.
Background Person
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Freddie Thompson has brought a High Court action over an alleged failure by prison authorities to respond to his questions about the conditions of his detention in Limerick Prison. Thompson claims that his detention in Limerick amounts to a punishment but says he was not the subject of any disciplinary hearing, nor provided with any paperwork informing him that a sanction has been imposed on him.; The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court in late December.
Background Person
Outcome: prison authorities to respond to his questions about the conditions of his detention in Limerick Prison. He further claims that the authorities have refused to answer questions about the conditions of his current detention raised by his solicitors.; The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned before the court in late December.
Places mentioned
- High Court
- Special Criminal Court
- Limerick
- Limerick Prison
- Portlaoise
- Portlaoise Prison
- Irish Prison
- The Prison
Topics
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