THE High Court yesterday gave the go-ahead to the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to take over the management and maintenance of five properties owned by convicted drug dealer John Gilligan and his family.

GERALDINE Gilligan, the ex-wife of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan, told the High Court yesterday she lives on €80 per week from renting grazing rights at Jessbrook Equestrian Centre lands, which she owns.

DRUG dealer John Gilligan claimed yesterday that had he paid a €2.5 million tax bill, the Criminal Assets Bureau would not be seeking to take over properties belonging to him and his family.

PROPERTIES owned by convicted drug dealer John Gilligan and his family are uninsured and at risk of destruction, by accident or otherwise, it was claimed in the High Court yesterday.

PATRICK ‘Dutchy’ Holland can hardly expect much public sympathy for his plight. An armed robber, who also served a sentence on an explosive’s charge, he is now serving 12 years for drug-dealing.