Gilligan loses latest CAB challenge

The Special Criminal Court has ruled that convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan is not entitled to have a jury preside over the State's efforts to seize his assets.

The Criminal Assets Bureau is trying to confiscate Mr Gilligan's estimated £14m fortune, as well as assets including the Jessbrook equestrian centre in Enfield, Co Meath, which technically belongs to Mr Gilligan's wife.

The State claims all of Mr Gilligan's assets are the proceeds of his criminal career.

Mr Gilligan, who is serving 28 years in Portlaoise Prison for importing cannabis, has argued that the efforts to seize his belongings should be treated as a civil matter requiring a jury and that the Special Criminal Court is not the appropriate venue to deal with his case.

However, the court ruled today that it does have the power to proceed with the CAB application under existing criminal law.

The case is up for mention again on October 2.