John Gilligan has obtained a High Court order preventing the Judge from hearing the convicted drug dealer's appeal against his conviction for having a mobile phone in his cell from proceeding to sentencing him, should his conviction be upheld.

A Drimnagh man is to have his trial take place before the Special Criminal Court after the Director of Public Prosecutions stated that ordinary courts are “inadequate” to deal with it.

Convicted murderer, Brian Rattigan, has appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to possession of two mobile phones while he was an inmate in Portlaoise prison almost two years ago.