Detectives are selling off an Olympic-sized equestrian centre after an epic 16-year battle to seize the assets of convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan.

Detectives are selling off an Olympic-sized equestrian centre after an epic 16-year battle to seize the assets of one of Ireland’s most notorious criminals.

Convicted drug dealer John Gilligan has lost his latest legal challenge against orders that his assets and those of his family were the proceeds of crime.

THE Supreme Court will hear later this year an appeal by convicted drug dealer John Gilligan and other members of his family aimed at preventing several properties owned by them, including the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre in Co Meath, being handed over to the state after a High Court finding that they are the proceeds of crime.

One of Ireland’s most notorious criminals, John Gilligan, today lost a High Court fight to keep control of his properties.

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.

A JUDGE yesterday ordered that photographs of the former equestrian centre owned by the wife of convicted drug dealer, John Gilligan, should be taken today or on Monday to ascertain its condition in advance of a High Court hearing next week into whether a receiver should be appointed to take the property over.

Drug trafficker and one time chief suspect in the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin – John Gilligan is to write a book in a bid to dispel what he claims are the half truths written about his life of crime.

THE MOST dangerous prisoner in the country, John Gilligan, was under heavy armed guard in a hospital bed last night having undergone tests for chest and arm pains.

The Special Criminal Court has ordered that convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan should pay more than €17m within a year after finding that he had benefited from importing 17,500 kilos of cannabis into the country over a two-year period.

The Special Criminal Court today fixed June 4 as the provisional date for the trial of convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan on charges of assaulting a prison officer.

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.

The Special Criminal Court has ruled that convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan is not entitled to have a jury preside over the State's efforts to seize his assets.

The convicted drug’s baron John Gilligan, who is serving a 28-year-sentence for drug-trafficking, is expected to find out today if the state can move ahead to confiscate his assets.