Gilligan assets case adjourned

The Special Criminal Court today adjourned an application by the State to

confiscate assets owned by John Gilligan who is serving 28 years in jail for

importing cannabis.

A preliminary application will be made again on April 23 following objections by Mr Gilligan's legal team.

Michael O'Higgins, senior counsel representing Mr Gilligan told the court that the State was seeking to assess how much his client had benefited from drug trafficking.

Mr O'Higgins said there were a number of substantial legal issues, which arose as a result of this application. He said the State provided three lever arch files on the matter and he needed time to study the contents.

Counsel for the State Peter Charleton said the court was now attempting to

assess how much money Gilligan had made from criminal activity.

He said when the Special Criminal Court makes an order, the State will go to the High Court for an application to appoint a receiver against Gilligan's assets.