Chaplain says Gilligan is being kept on an open ward

The chaplain of Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown today said convicted drug dealer John Gilligan is being kept in an open ward with five other people following the attempt on his life last Saturday.

Armed gardaí are stationed outside the ward.

Father Dan Joe O’Mahony said Mr Gilligan was “in great pain” when he arrived by ambulance at the hospital. “All the doctors and nurses worked very professionally on him.

“He was administered with drugs – lines and tubes and whatnot – they did everything possible. There were ten people working on him at the one time. They did a great job.”

Fr O’Mahony said he administered the sacrament of the sick with general absolution to Mr Gilligan.

“It’s hard to know how conscious he was to be honest. I know they were trying to tell him what was happening and what they were trying to do for him. The wounds he had – he was a lucky man – he had wounds in his chest, his legs, and I think a bullet grazed his head. There was blood everywhere.

“He was brought from casualty in for a CT scan, and later on he was brought to theatre that night. The following morning, I saw him in the ward about 5am, where he was asleep.”

Fr O'Mahony told Today with Sean O'Rourke it was thought Mr Gilligan's chances of survival at the time "could have gone either way" after the attack. "I know from the conversations that were going on that it was 50/50 for a while."

He added he had “doubts” as to whether Mr Gilligan was wearing a bullet-proof vest.