‘Ill-judged’ bail bid by money laundering accused is rejected

A MAN from the Republic accused of money laundering offences in connection with being arrested while attempting to board a flight from Belfast to Spain was refused bail by a court yesterday.

John Gilligan (66), of Greenfort Crescent, Dublin, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday via video-link from Maghaberry Prison where he has been on remand in connection with one charge of “attempting to remove criminal property from Northern Ireland”.

The accused was arrested at Belfast International Airport last month.

At the time the National Crime Agency (NCA) said officers recovered around €23,000 at the scene.

At Coleraine Court yesterday, defence barrister Plunkett Nugent said he had noted a previous comment made by District Judge Peter King that unless there was a “tectonic” change in circumstances, bail would be refused.

Regarding a “risk of flight” mentioned by prosecutors, Mr Nugent said the defendant had previously signed bail daily for a period of three-and-a-half years in Dublin and had co-operated with police.

Mr Nugent also told the court of a “very real, immediate, and ongoing threat to the life of the defendant”.

A NCA investigator, who told the court it was liaising with Garda about the issue, also objected to bail saying: “This man has no ties to Northern Ireland. We are concerned that he is a flight risk. The address being put up for bail has a very tenuous link.

“The householder was contacted by police on Friday and she would say she knows Mr Gilligan simply through her father. He is a friend of her father.”

Regarding previous claims made about the defendant’s health, the NCA investigator said prison staff had been contacted and outlined the medical procedures in place.

He added they would be contacting a number of individuals who allege they provided Gilligan money as part of their investigation.

Refusing bail, District Judge King said the application was “ill-judged” as there was nothing to suggest that the situation had changed “one iota”.

The defendant was remanded in continuing custody to appear again via video-link next month.