A convicted sex offender has brought a High Court challenge aimed at reversing a decision to transfer him to another prison.
Niall Healy, who was jailed for 10 years for offences including aggravated sexual assault, has challenged his transfer to Wheatfield Prison from Arbour Hill Prison.
Healy claims that as a result of being moved last October, he is unable to complete a psychological treatment programme for those convicted of sexual crimes.
Lawyers for Healy told the court Arbour Hill was the only prison that provided a programme entitled Building Better Lives for the treatment of convicted sex offenders.
As a result of the transfer, Healy says he cannot complete the course but he wishes to complete it. Despite several requests, no reason was given to Healy or his lawyers for the transfer, he claims.
Healy (36), Palmerstown Wood, Clondalkin, Dublin, was convicted in 2006 of sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman whom he had offered to drive home in the early morning of July 20th, 2001.
Leave to bring the challenge was granted on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Michael Peart who adjourned the matter to later this month.