Case against Gilligan to conclude today

Closing submissions in the John Gilligan murder trial will begin this morning at the Special Criminal Court.

Counsel for the State, Eamonn Leahy SC, will conclude the prosecution case after 38 days of evidence.

Lawyers for the defendant, who denies all charges, will then close their case.

Submissions may take a number of days, after which the three-judge panel is likely to reserve judgement until next week.

Mr Gilligan is facing a charge of murdering the crime journalist Veronica Guerin and 15 drugs and firearms charges.