Gilligan loses appeal against prison sentence

Convicted drug dealer John Gilligan has lost a High Court action aimed at securing his release from prison.

In proceedings against the Governor of Portlaoise Prison, the Garda Síochána, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, Gilligan, who in 2001 received a 28-year prison sentence after being convicted of drugs offences at the Special Criminal Court, sought an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution that his detention at Portlaoise Prison was unlawful.