Gilligan bid for assets hearing delay fails

John Gilligan has lost his legal bid to have a court hearing dealing with the confiscation of his assets adjourned.

Gilligan wanted the hearing put back until the Supreme Court had ruled on a constitutional challenge into the right of the courts to seize the assets of convicted drug dealers.

The State is seeking to confiscate £14.2m which it alleges were Gilligan's profits from the sale of drugs over a two-year period.

The Special Criminal Court heard that the State wants to appoint a receiver to realise Gilligan's assets, which allegedly include the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, six vehicles and £5m in bets.

Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan held that it would be entirely inappropriate and unthinkable to adjourn the case pending the challenge.

He said the court would proceed with hearing the DPP's application, but that it was open to Gilligan to apply to the High Court to stop the proceedings.