Disgust as killer uses Facebook in prison
7:26am Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News
THE grieving family of a murdered father have been left “disgusted”
after his killer was able to use the social networking website Facebook — from prison.
Paul Gilligan was stabbed to death by Leon Ramsden in a Bolton town centre pub in 2008.
Just hours before he murdered the 31-year-old father-of-three, Ramsden had posted on his Facebook page “I feel like killin some1”.
The 23-year-old was jailed for life, and ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years in prison in 2009.
Mr Gilligan’s devastated family have severely criticised prison officersfor allowing Ramsden access to the internet and social networking websites.
A spokesman for Mr Gilligan’s family said: “It’s disgusting. Losing his freedom was part of the punishment. We have lost contact with Paul for ever but he can still contact his family and friends.
“We are really disappointed.
We have lost our loved one but he is still in touch with the world.
“It seems like he is having fun in there chilling with his boys.
“It drags everything up for us again. We have tried to move on but it is still very difficult to come to terms with it.”
The Prison Service said it is working on having the page taken down.
A spokesman added: “Prisoners have no access to the internet and are barred from updating Facebook while serving their sentence, or asking others to do so from outside prison. If they do, their accounts will be terminated.
“It is a criminal offence to have a mobile phone in prison and we work hard to keep them out. Any prisoner found in possession of one will be dealt with appropriately.”
The spokesman said it is impossible to say what action could be taken until a full investigation is carried out.
Ramsden stabbed Mr Gilligan — known as Gilly — in his left shoulder and the left side of his chest in the former Pepper Alley pub—now The Millstone — on July 13, 2008.
They had earlier been talking and appeared to be laughing and joking with each other.
A “play fight” broke out and Mr Gilligan put Ramsden in a head lock and ruffled his hair.
Insulted, Ramsden walked out of the pub but returned within seconds armed with a knife and stabbed Mr Gilligan.
A post mortem examination revealed he died from a stab wound to the heart.
Before the murder Ramsden had been on a three-day drink and drugs binge.
