The prosecution case in the trial of Mr John Gilligan, the man accused of murdering journalist Veronica Guerin, closed at the Special Criminal Court today.
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John Gilligan
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Counsel for Mr Gilligan, Mr Terence Mc Donald QC said that he will be making submissions that his client has no case to answer on all the counts.
The court agreed to adjourn the trial until next Tuesday when it will hear the defence submissions and the prosecution's response.
Earlier the court rejected a defence application that Mr Gilligan should be released immediately and ruled that he was lawfully before the court.
It was the thirty-fifth day of the trial of John Gilligan (48), with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare; and HM Prison Belmarsh, London, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sunday Independent crime reporter Veronica Guerin(37) at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin on June 26th, 1996.
He also denies fifteen other counts alleging the importation of cannabis and firearms and ammunition offences.
The prosecution has claimed that the accused was "in control and command" of a criminal gang that imported and distributed large amounts of cannabis and that he organised the murder of Ms Guerin.
Mr Gilligan's counsel Mr Michael O' Higgins submitted that there had been "improper conduct" between the Garda and the UK authorities to keep his client in custody in England while garda inquiries into the murder continued in 1997.
He submitted that Mr Gilligan should have been released once the UK authorities decided in September 1997 not to proceed with their prosecution against him and that he was therefore not lawfully before the Special Criminal Court.
Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, presiding,said the court rejected the suggestion that there was any evidence of improper conduct by either police authority.
The judge said that inthe court'sopinion the accused is in lawful custody in this country pursuant to an order of the Special Criminal Court.