Gilligan family in appeal over properties

DRUG dealer John Gilligan’s family claimed yesterday they were entitled to a new hearing of High Court proceedings which found their assets were the proceeds of crime.

The Gilligans, in an appeal to the Supreme Court which opened yesterday, say the original orders declaring properties they own to be funded by crime were not final and did not entitle the Criminal Assets Bureau to seek to have those properties forfeited to the State.

The High Court has already found that properties bought by the Gilligans are the proceeds of crime. If the Supreme Court rejects the appeal, the bureau will be entitled to proceed to sell the properties.