A MAN charged with murdering journalist Martin O'Hagan has won the right to challenge a decision to hold him in a segregated prison unit.
Drew King, 40, was granted leave to apply for a judicial review of a restriction on his movements while on remand at Maghaberry jail.
Lawyers for the Prison Service told a hearing at the High Court that it was due to fears for his safety within th
e general prison population.
Barrister Peter Coll said: “The Prison Service has intelligence to indicate there’s a high degree of risk to him from others in HMP Maghaberry.”
King, of Moss Road, Waringstown, is one of three men to be charged with Mr O’Hagan’s murder.
The Sunday World reporter was shot dead near his Lurgan home in September 2001.
Since King was remanded in custody last month, he has been kept in a Secure Supervision Unit, with restrictions on his association.
During discussions with a prison governor he said that although conditions there were depressing he understood it was for his own safety, according to Mr Coll.
The lawyer pointed out that two co-accused were also being held in the SSU, and rejected claims that it was because of contacts with prison staff.
He also referred to a former female warder who, it is claimed, is in a relationship with King.
"It's suggested this has given rise to some problems," said Mr Coll.
"There's a suggestion that there has been offensive behaviour and commentary by some prison staff."
He added: "The Prison Service say in making these decisions they were not aware of social relationships he had with members of staff within Maghaberry, but that these matters having been brought to their attention they will investigate them further."
Granting leave to apply for a judicial review of the decision, Mr Justice McLaughlin said there were issues which required further explanation.
Lawyers for King stressed their desire for a swift resolution.
The full article contains 329 words and appears in Lurgan Mail newspaper.
