Gilligan contests charges over €23,000 bust

FORMER gang boss John Gilligan, who was arrested with almost €23,000 in a suitcase at Belfast International Airport last August, is to contest charges he faces in April.

Dubliner Gilligan (66) was in the dock at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court yesterday. He faces two charges. One charge is that last August 23, the defendant attempted to remove criminal property from Northern Ireland. The second charge is that he possessed criminal property – €22,280.

A defence lawyer said they were served with the case papers that morning, adding: “They are quite voluminous.” He said his “clear instructions” were to enter a not guilty plea and contest the charges. A prosecution lawyer said there were 15 prosecution witnesses, while the defence lawyer told the court they had 13 witnesses for the defence.