Witness lied about money, says defence

The defence lawyer for John Gilligan told the Special Criminal Court today that protected witness Charles Bowden lied to the gardai and in the witness box.

Michael O'Higgins SC said Bowden lied to the court about £100,000 that was found by gardai at a flat in Mespil Road, which he claimed was his life savings from dealing in drugs.

Instead, Mr O'Higgins claimed the witness earned substantially more money than that found and said it was proof that Bowden's evidence in court lacked credibility.

He insisted that Bowden's account of what happened on June 26th 1996 was one that was outlined to him ten months after Veronica Guerin's death. John Gilligan is on trial for the murder of the journalist.

Closing submissions continue tomorrow.