The High Court has dismissed another attempt by convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan to stop the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab)from confiscating his property.
The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, yesterday dismissed a claim by Gilligan and his wife Geraldine that the Proceeds of Crime Act does not apply to their property and that sections of the Act were repugnant to the Constitution.
The judge also adjourned to next Monday applications by Gilligan's children Darren and Tracey Gilligan aimed at quashing earlier court orders confiscating their property. Gilligan, his wife and son Darren were in court for the proceedings.
Gilligan, who is serving a 20- year sentence for possession of cannabis resin, lost his final appeal in the Supreme Court last November against his conviction.
After a lengthy trial which began in late 2000, the non-jury Special Criminal Court cleared Gilligan in 2001 of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in June 1996 and also acquitted him of firearms charges.
Gilligan was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of possession of an estimated 20,000kg of cannabis resin over a two-year period and was jailed for 28 years which was later reduced on appeal to 20 years.
The confiscation orders being sought by Cab relate to a number of properties, including Jessbrook Equestrian Centre and lands at Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare, and two houses in Lucan, Dublin.