Convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan was charged at the Special Criminal Court yesterday with assaulting a prison officer at Portlaoise prison last year.
During a 10-minute hearing Gilligan was charged with assaulting prison officer Mr Martin Ryan causing him harm at Portlaoise Prison on March 25th last year.
He was also charged with threatening Mr Ryan that he would be killed and with threatening prison officer Mr Declan O'Reilly that he would be killed.
Insp Philip Lyons, Portlaoise, gave evidence of meeting Gilligan at the court yesterday morning and reading over the charges to him and after being cautioned, Gilligan replied: "Not guilty."
Gilligan's solicitor Mr Joe Rice submitted that because of the 10-month delay in bringing the charges there were many potential witnesses who were no longer in the prison.
Mr Justice Richard Johnson, presiding, remanded Gilligan in custody until March 19th next when the case will be mentioned again.