A violent criminal who threatened a Limerick prison officer that he could spend up to €20,000 to have him killed has been jailed for two years.
Gary Campion (21), Pineview Gardens, Moyross, told the prison officer that he had already shot people in Limerick for €10,000 and he would have no problem spending twice that to have him "blown away".
Campion pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to a charge of threatening to kill prison officer John Ryan, at Limerick prison on May 26th, 2004.
The court heard that Campion, who was serving a prison sentence at the time, was involved in a scuffle and was being restrained by three prison officers when he made the threat to Mr Ryan.
"I have shot people in this town for €10,000 and I'd have no difficulty spending €20,000 to have you blown away. If it's the last thing I do, I'll get you and your family," Campion told the officer.
The father of three, who has a long list of previous convictions, including seven for violent offences and one for issuing a threat to kill, was described in court as very violent.
The court heard that Campion also shouted at the prison officer: "Ryan, you still have to go out that Dublin Road every evening," indicating that he knew where he lived.
Defence counsel Mark Nicholas BL said his client deeply regretted his behaviour and he wished to take back what he had said to Mr Ryan.
Mr Nicholas added that Campion had spent three days in solitary confinement and had gone without certain privileges for five days after the threat was made against Mr Ryan.
Before imposing sentence Judge Carroll Moran said he had to take into account Campion's guilty plea and the fact that nothing had happened to Prison Officer Ryan "subsequent to the threat".
The judge added, however, that the courts were expected to protect prison officers who were in a vulnerable position.