The High CourtMidlands man takes High Court action against Defence Forces complaints tribunalPaul NeilanAn Offaly man and former Portlaoise prison guard who alleges he was fired at with "lethal intent" while he helped to foil a 1988 escape attempt by a paramilitary prisoner, has taken a High Court challenge against a Defence Force tribunal that has refused to hear from him. Mr O'Brien submits he was a prison officer and civil servant at the prison from February 1980 to May 1989. He submits the Defence Forces had been "in control" of the prison by way of armed guard since 1973. He [Mr O'Brien] squarely falls into this category," said counsel, who added that "not being heard was a further trauma". Counsel said that to include Mr O'Brien in a Defence Forces complaints procedure investigation would "cast a very wide net" and that the tribunal had a three-year time limit.

Source: Irish Independent January 21, 2026 21:34 UTC