The only person in jail for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin is today due to hear the outcome of an appeal against his sentence.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment in the appeal by Brian Meehan against his conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin ten years ago.

Brian Meehan began his appeal today against his conviction for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin - one day after the tenth anniversary of the gunning down of the crime reporter on the Naas Road in 1996.

DUBLIN criminal John Gilligan has lost his last legal bid to overturn his conviction on drug trafficking charges.

Convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan today lost his Supreme Court appeal against conviction for the possession of cannabis resin for sale and supply.

THE State will spend over €1 million this year safeguarding individuals on the heavily criticised garda witness protection programme.

Drugs baron John Gilligan today won the right to appeal his conviction on two points of law in the Supreme Court.

THERE were calls yesterday for the State witness protection programme to be put on a statutory basis.

THE Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is to sell off multi-million euro properties belonging to crime boss John Gilligan.

The brother of murdered journalist Veronica Guerin said today he was happy that the man cleared of killing her was still behind bars after failing to overturn a drugs conviction.

Having lost an appeal against his conviction, John Gilligan is to appeal the length of his sentence for drugs offences.

Drugs baron John Gilligan is due to hear the result of an appeal against his 28-year sentence for drug offences today.

TAXPAYERS forked out close to €500,000 last year to relocate supergrasses who gave State evidence to convict criminal accomplices.

The State's attempt to confiscate the assets of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan rests on the evidence of Assistant Garda Commissioner, Tony Hickey, the Special Criminal Court heard today. Mr Gilligan briefly interrupted the proceedings from the dock to tell the court he has "no money".

The Special Criminal Court was told today that two former protected witnesses are outside the jurisdiction and unavailable to give evidence at the hearing of an application to confiscate assets of a convicted drugs dealer.

Two key prosecution witnesses, who appeared in the Veronica Guerin murder trials, have been freed from jail.

John Gilligan was today cleared at Dublin’s Special Criminal Court of ordering the murder of investigative journalist Veronica Guerin.

John Gilligan has been acquitted of the murder of crime journalist Veronica Guerin.

John Gilligan has been found not guilty of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin at the Special Criminal Court.

Lawyers for John Gilligan have told the Special Criminal Court that there are glaring omissions and serious questions to be asked about the garda investigation into the Veronica Guerin murder.

A third state supergrass, Charles Bowden, has taken the witness stand in the Special Criminal Court to give evidence against John Gilligan.

The Special Criminal Court has been shown a further three letters written to State supergrass Russell Warren by John Gilligan.

The Special Criminal Court has been shown a letter written to State supergrass Russell Warren by John Gilligan seven months after the murder of Veronica Guerin.

State supergrass Russell Warren broke down and wept in court today while describing the day Veronica Guerin was shot dead.

Lawyers for John Gilligan are continuing to cross-examine State supergrass Russell Warren about his account of what happened the day Veronica Guerin was murdered.

Lawyers for John Gilligan have cross-examined State supergrass Russell Warren for a second day at the Special Criminal Court.

State supergrass Russell Warren has told the Special Criminal Court this morning that he believed he was being blackmailed by the State to give evidence against John Gilligan.

Lawyers for John Gilligan will continue their cross-examination of state supergrass Russell Warren at the Special Criminal Court this morning.

State supergrass Russell Warren told the Special Criminal Court today that he continued to collect drugs money for John Gilligan after the Veronica Guerin murder.

Protected witness Russell Warren has told the Special Criminal Court that John Gilligan told him to tail Veronica Guerin on the day she was murdered.

A second state supergrass has taken the stand at the Special Criminal Court to give evidence against John Gilligan.

State supergrass John Dunne has told the Special Criminal Court about a war waged by those on the Witness Protection Programme against the Department of Justice.