Witnesses 'unavailable to give drugs case evidence'

The Special Criminal Court was told today that two former protected witnesses are outside the jurisdiction and unavailable to give evidence at the hearing of an application to confiscate assets of a convicted drugs dealer.

The court ruled last month that Charles Bowden and Russell Warren had relevant evidence to give in the court’s decision on whether John Gilligan benefited from drug trafficking.

The pair were released from prison last year after giving evidence under the Witness Protection Programme at several trials connected with Gilligan’s drugs gang and the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

The hearing into Gilligan’s assets was adjourned to allow the State to ascertain the whereabouts of the two witnesses.

But today State counsel Mr Peter Charleton SC said that Bowden and Warren were outside the jurisdiction and under no compulsion to return home, and were not available to give evidence.

The court adjourned the hearing until February 18 when it will hear closing submissions on the application.

The court has been told by Assistant Commissioner Tony Hickey that Gilligan made a gross profit of over £37m (€47m) from importing around 19,000 kilos of cannabis resin over a two-year period. He said that Gilligan’s net profit was £14,024,000 (€18m).

The court has heard that the State wants the High Court to appoint a receiver to realise Gilligan’s assets which allegedly include an equestrian centre at Jessbrook, two houses in Lucan, a house at Blanchardstown, six vehicles, 16 bank accounts and over £5m (€6.3m) he staked in bets.

Gilligan is serving a 28-year prison sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court on March 15 last year for importing cannabis resin.

John Gilligan, 49, with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin, and Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare, was convicted of 11 offences alleging that he unlawfully imported cannabis resin on various dates between July 1, 1994, and October 6, 1996, that he unlawfully possessed cannabis resin for sale or supply on the same dates and that on or about October 3, 1996, at Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, he had cannabis resin for sale or supply.

He was cleared of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin on June 26, 1996.