A convicted drug dealer, John Gilligan, has asked the High Court for an injunction preventing an inquiry by the Special Criminal Court into whether he profited from drug dealing. He wants the injunction pending a full hearing of the case at a later date. The hearing of the application concluded yesterday and Mr Justice Lavan reserved his decision.
Gilligan was jailed for 28 years last March after being convicted by the Special Criminal Court of 11 offences including the unlawful importation of cannabis resin into the State on various dates between July 1st, 1994, and October 6th, 1996, and the unlawful possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply on the same dates.
He was also convicted of having cannabis resin for sale or supply at Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harold's Cross, Dublin, on October 3rd, 1996. He was acquitted on a charge of murdering journalist Veronica Guerin on June 26th, 1996.
Gilligan is seeking to prevent the DPP prosecuting an inquiry under the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and also has a constitutional challenge to Section 4 of that legislation. Unless the injunction is granted, it is anticipated the Special Criminal Court hearing will take place next month.
The State, which is opposing the injunction application, is seeking to confiscate £14.2 million which it alleges were Gilligan's profits from importing 20,000 kilos of cannabis resin over a two-year period.
There is also an application by the State to appoint a receiver to realise Gilligan's assets which allegedly include an equestrian centre at Jessbrook, Enfield, Co Kildare; two houses in Lucan, Dublin; six vehicles; 16 bank accounts; and £5 million which Gilligan allegedly staked in bets.
In an affidavit, Gilligan - who is detained in Portlaoise prison and was not in court yesterday - said he had already been subjected to perhaps the most publicised criminal trial in the history of the State.