The High Court has dismissed another bid by convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan to stop the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) from confiscating his property.
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, today dismissed a claim by Gilligan and his wife, Geraldine, that the Proceeds of Crime Act does not apply to their property and that Sections of the Act were repugnant to the Constitution.
The judge also adjourned to next Monday applications by Gilligan's children, Darren and Tracey Gilligan, aimed at quashing earlier court orders confiscating their property.
Gilligan, his wife, and son Darren were in court for the proceedings.
Gilligan, who is serving a 20-year sentence for possession of cannabis resin, lost his final appeal in the Supreme Court last November against his conviction.
After a lengthy trial that began in late 2000, the non-jury Special Criminal Court cleared Gilligan in 2001 of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in June 1996 and also acquitted him of firearms charges.
But Gilligan was convicted of possession of an estimated 20,000 kilograms of cannabis resin over a two-year period and was jailed for 28 years. This was later reduced on appeal to 20 years.
The confiscation orders being sought by the Cab relate to a number of properties, including Jessbrook Equestrian Centre and lands at Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare, and two houses in Lucan, Dublin.
Cab was granted a High Court order in December 1996 preventing the Gilligans dealing with or otherwise disposing of the properties.
Following the passing of a seven-year period that must elapse before assets which have been "frozen" under court order may be sold, Cab claims it is now entitled to an order for the disposal of the properties under Section Four of the Proceeds of Crime Act.