John Gilligan
Encyclopedia
John Gilligan is an Irish
criminal.
John Gilligan was born to a poor family from the Ballyfermot area of Dublin city. His father, John, was a violent alcoholic who subjected his wife, Sarah, to horrific beatings. This had a profound effect on the young Gilligan. A career criminal who was first convicted at age 15, it was after a 1993 prison stint that he began an organisation that illegally imported cigarettes and later drugs. In 2001 he was sentenced to 30 years for possession of 20,000 kilograms of cannabis resin
. This sentence was later reduced to 20 years on appeal. He was later convicted of threatening to kill two prison officers and their families while in Portlaoise Prison
and sentenced to 5 years in prison after his original term is completed. Prior to his arrest he was a keen sports enthusiast who had invested heavily in the Irish equestrian
industry.
who was, as well as the police, investigating him and the drug trade in Ireland. After her murder, the Gardaí would at one point have over 100 officers on the case, which led to 214 arrests, 39 convictions, 100 confiscated guns as well as £
5m worth of drugs and £6.5m worth of confiscated property.
In 2002, the Special Criminal Court
filed an order to confiscate and sell his 77 acres (311,608.2 m²) equestrian ranch. From prison, Gilligan contested this order in the High Court and won his case, on the grounds that the Special Criminal Court did not have jurisdiction. This was later appealed in the Supreme Court and on 21 December 2005, the appeal was rejected unanimously. Gilligan's assets remain frozen, however, by the Criminal Assets Bureau
(CAB). On 30 January 2006, the High Court cleared the way for the Criminal Assets Bureau to proceed with an application to have the equestrian centre and other property belonging to Gilligan and other members of his family handed over to the State. In January 2008, Gilligan made a court appearance in an attempt to stop the State from selling off his assets. He accused John Traynor
of having ordered Guerin's murder without his permission. Despite the presiding judge's attempt to silence Gilligan, he continued to blame a botched Gardaí investigation and planted evidence as the reason for his current imprisonment. On the 19 December 2008, Gilligan lost an appeal for a second hearing by the High Court. The decision means the CAB can now apply to the High Court under the proceeds of crime act to dispose of the properties which also includes houses in Lucan
and Blanchardstown
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
criminal.
John Gilligan was born to a poor family from the Ballyfermot area of Dublin city. His father, John, was a violent alcoholic who subjected his wife, Sarah, to horrific beatings. This had a profound effect on the young Gilligan. A career criminal who was first convicted at age 15, it was after a 1993 prison stint that he began an organisation that illegally imported cigarettes and later drugs. In 2001 he was sentenced to 30 years for possession of 20,000 kilograms of cannabis resin
Hashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
. This sentence was later reduced to 20 years on appeal. He was later convicted of threatening to kill two prison officers and their families while in Portlaoise Prison
Portlaoise Prison
Portlaoise Prison is the Republic of Ireland's only high security prison. It is located in Portlaoise, County Laois. It should not be confused with the Midlands Prison, which is a newer, medium security prison situated directly beside it....
and sentenced to 5 years in prison after his original term is completed. Prior to his arrest he was a keen sports enthusiast who had invested heavily in the Irish equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
industry.
Murder of Veronica Guerin
In 2002, Gilligan was tried and acquitted of the murder of journalist Veronica GuerinVeronica Guerin
Veronica Guerin was an Irish crime reporter who was murdered on 26 June 1996 by drug lords, an event which, alongside the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe three weeks earlier, helped establish the Criminal Assets Bureau....
who was, as well as the police, investigating him and the drug trade in Ireland. After her murder, the Gardaí would at one point have over 100 officers on the case, which led to 214 arrests, 39 convictions, 100 confiscated guns as well as £
Irish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
5m worth of drugs and £6.5m worth of confiscated property.
In 2002, the Special Criminal Court
Special Criminal Court
The Special Criminal Court is a juryless criminal court in the Republic of Ireland which tries terrorist and organized crime cases. Article 38 of the Constitution of Ireland empowers the Dáil to establish "special courts" with wide-ranging powers when "the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure...
filed an order to confiscate and sell his 77 acres (311,608.2 m²) equestrian ranch. From prison, Gilligan contested this order in the High Court and won his case, on the grounds that the Special Criminal Court did not have jurisdiction. This was later appealed in the Supreme Court and on 21 December 2005, the appeal was rejected unanimously. Gilligan's assets remain frozen, however, by the Criminal Assets Bureau
Criminal Assets Bureau
The Criminal Assets Bureau is a law enforcement agency in Ireland, the purpose of which is to recover the proceeds of organised crime. It is a division of the Garda , but reports annually to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform...
(CAB). On 30 January 2006, the High Court cleared the way for the Criminal Assets Bureau to proceed with an application to have the equestrian centre and other property belonging to Gilligan and other members of his family handed over to the State. In January 2008, Gilligan made a court appearance in an attempt to stop the State from selling off his assets. He accused John Traynor
John Traynor (criminal)
John "The Coach" Traynor is an Irish criminal. Traynor was one of the contacts in the criminal world for murdered Irish journalist Veronica Guerin.-Career:...
of having ordered Guerin's murder without his permission. Despite the presiding judge's attempt to silence Gilligan, he continued to blame a botched Gardaí investigation and planted evidence as the reason for his current imprisonment. On the 19 December 2008, Gilligan lost an appeal for a second hearing by the High Court. The decision means the CAB can now apply to the High Court under the proceeds of crime act to dispose of the properties which also includes houses in Lucan
Lucan, Dublin
In the Irish language, 'Leamhcáin' is translated to 'Lucan', meaning 'Place of the Elm Trees'. The name probably comes from a people that travelled by river, as Lucan is the first place that Elm trees are encountered if travelling inland from the Liffey....
and Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown is a large suburb of Dublin in the district of Fingal, Ireland. It is within the historical barony of Castleknock. It is located 10 km north-west of the city centre. The suburb is in the Dublin 15 postal area, the Dublin West electoral constituency, and Fingal County...
.