Gilligan fights appointment of receiver

CONVICTED drug dealer John Gilligan has claimed the hearing of receivership proceedings by the Criminal Assets Bureau in relation to his family’s assets should not have gone ahead pending the outcome of an appeal by him before the Supreme Court.

In that Supreme Court appeal, Gilligan is challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act, under which CAB operates.

Gilligan, who is serving a 20-year sentence for drug dealing, represented himself yesterday in ongoing proceedings relating to the multi-million euro Jessbrook equestrian centre and a number of houses in the names of members of the Gilligan family which have been found by the court to be the proceeds of crime.

The High Court appointed CAB legal officer Frank Cassidy as receiver over the properties. Gilligan has repeatedly argued the application by the CAB to appoint a receiver to these properties should not have gone ahead pending the Supreme Court decision on his appeal against the constitutionality of the Proceeds of Crime Act. When he raised the matter, he was told by Mr Justice Kevin Feeney that an “express order” would be drawn up stating the judge had already ruled the appeal does not act as a stay on the receivership proceedings.

This order would be sent to Gilligan in Portlaoise Prison so that he could then formally appeal against to the Supreme Court, if he chose, the judge said.

The Supreme Court has fixed October 15 next for the hearing of an application by CAB to have the court case manage Gilligan’s Proceeds of Crime Act appeal. Mr Justice Feeney adjourned further proceedings in relation to the receivership until after that date.

The court also adjourned to July 28 proceedings in relation to a caretaker agreement proposed by CAB for Jessbrook House in Enfield, Co Meath, where Geraldine Gilligan, legally separated from her husband, is living.