I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the person referred to by the Deputy was transferred from Castlerea Prison to Wheatfield Prison in order to allow him access to the therapeutic services available there. It is, of course, open to this person to apply for a return to Castlerea Prison. I understand, however, that no such application was ever received.
I am also informed that this prisoner is involved in a number of legal actions against the State; that he has appealed an unsuccessful habeas corpus application to the Supreme Court and that he has a further case pending before the High Court relating to sanctions imposed by the governor of Wheatfield Prison following a breach of prison discipline.
There is no question that any privileges or entitlements were refused or withdrawn from any prisoner simply because he or she availed of his or her constitutional right to take issues up in the courts. I categorically reject any suggestion that this occurred in this case. I can inform the Deputy that my position on subversive prisoners is that persons serving prison sentences who are considered to be members of the Real IRA are held in a maximum security environment, that is, Portlaoise Prison. The person referred to was never detained in such a setting.
