Body of suspected Gilligan associate to be flown home

The body of an Irishman believed to have been a key member of drugs baron John Gilligan’s gang is to be flown home today.

Liam Judge, 47, died in the apartment he was sharing with his partner - Gilligan’s daughter – in Malaga, southern Spain. It is thought he was beaten to death at the weekend.

The former lorry driver is suspected of laundering millions of euro for the convicted drugs baron.

He was separated from his wife and living in Spain with Tracey Gilligan.

Judge’s wife, Helen, was kidnapped from her home in Allenwood, Co Kildare, last year. She was released after two days.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of reports of the murder and Gardaí said they could not comment.

Gilligan, 48, was cleared in 2001 of ordering the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. Earlier this year he was convicted of drugs trafficking and is serving a 20-year jail sentence. He is due in court in January in a bid to overturn the conviction.