The Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, today described the conviction of John Gilligan for importing drugs as a satisfying result from very long and difficult investigation.
He said John Gilligan had been convicted of a very serious crime which had formed part of the investigation into the murder of Veronica Guerin.
"It is not a question of whether we are disappointed or pleased.
"We cannot take this on a personal basis. We are professionals and we are tasked to investigate crime, get the evidence and prepare it for the director of public prosecutions," said Mr Byrne.
When asked about the criticism levelled at the Witness Protection Programme by Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, Mr Byrne said: "We look for witnesses to come forward and to give evidence in court. It is up to the judge to decide on their credibility."
Mr Justice O'Donovan had also been critical of the Garda when delivering his judgement saying the evidence of protected witness Russell Warren had been contradictory. He expressed concern gardaí returned money that was found in Warren's parents house even though neither Warren nor his parents claimed the money was theirs.
Replying to a question regarding Mr Justice O'Donovan's criticisms Mr Byrne said that he had "yet to study the judgement in full and we'll have to look at that but we have a conviction for a very serious crime."
Mr Byrne said: "We have dealt a severe blow to organised crime and to a particular group of people in organised crime but we won't rest on our laurels and we know we have a long way to go."
The commissioner was also asked whether there would be an attempt to prosecute the man who pulled the trigger of the gun which killed Veronica Guerin. He said that it was "one thing knowing the man who pulled the trigger but another thing having the evidence to prosecute".