Overview
- Prison officials told the court Burke could not be safely housed in Mountjoy’s general population once his enhanced prisoner status was withdrawn.
- The court heard his status was removed after a review of his behaviour during an escorted trip to a hearing.
- Authorities said Castlerea was selected because it could provide a single-cell unit, while Mountjoy had no single-cell availability due to overcrowding.
- A barrister said transfers are routine operational decisions made by prison service staff under the authority of the Minister for Justice.
- Burke, jailed for contempt since January and fined €225,000, addressed the court by video link to object to the move and was due to make submissions later today.