Protected witness Charles Bowden told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that the family of Veronica Guerin had sent him a message of support through the gardai for his application for temporary release. Bowden said the Guerin family had supported him "because of my decision to give evidence".
He told Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, counsel for Mr John Gilligan, that he had mentioned the family's support in a letter seeking temporary release from prison. Earlier he said his conditions in Arbour Hill were "contrary to prison law" and "punishment".
Bowden told Mr Justice O'Donovan, presiding, that he was due for release on September 6th this year.
He said that while he had no problems with the Garda side of the witness protection programme, he had been unhappy for some time with the Department of Justice's handling of his case as a State witness. He said the Department had not forced him to give evidence but he believed it was not dealing with his application for early release until he gave evidence.
Bowden said he went to Mr Thomas Gilligan's house in Clondalkin some time between June and October 1996.
"I went into the kitchen. John Gilligan was sitting at the table," he said. "There was money being counted. The gist of the conversation I can't remember but I'd imagine it would be something to do with deliveries of cannabis."
Yesterday was the 21st day of the trial of Mr John Gilligan (48), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Veronica Guerin (37) at Naas Road, Dublin, on June 26th, 1996.
The trial continues today.
