Gilligan in court accused of having phone in jail

Convicted drugs baron John Gilligan appeared in court today charged with having a mobile phone in Ireland’s maximum security prison.

The 57-year-old was brought before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court where he was charged with possession of a Nokia phone and Meteor Sim card on July 30 last year without the governor’s permission.

Gilligan is serving a 20-year sentence for drug offences at Portlaoise Prison which houses some of the country’s most notorious criminals.

If convicted of the latest offence, he could face a prison sentence of up to another five years behind bars.

The Courts Service said Judge Gerard Haughton adjourned the case until next week.

Gilligan was accused and acquitted of ordering the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in June 1996. He denied any involvement with her death and was cleared after a lengthy trial in the Special Criminal Court.

He was also cleared of firearms charges.

But he was convicted of possession of an estimated 20,000 kilograms of cannabis resin over a two-year period and was jailed for 28 years, which was later reduced on appeal to 20 years.

Two years later he lost a Supreme Court appeal against his conviction for possession for sale and supply.

He is not due for release until 2013.