Court sets John Gilligan appeal date for July

He was previously cleared of the murder of Sunday Independent crime reporter Veronica Guerin (37) in June 1996.

The Court of Criminal Appeal said today it will hear John Gilligan's appeal against his conviction on drugs charges on July 1st. Gilligan is serving a 28-year sentence after being convicted at the Special Criminal Court in March 2001 of possessing and importing 20,000 kilogrammes of cannabis resin into Ireland over two-years.

He was previously cleared of the murder of Sunday Independentcrime reporter Veronica Guerin (37) in June 1996.