Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’m an old man.. I can’t be looking over my shoulder
Gilligan held over €23k in suitcase
A MAN arrested with €23,000 in a suitcase has told a court he would honour terms of bail if it was granted because he is old now and “can’t be looking over my shoulder”.
John Gilligan, 66, was speaking at Coleraine Magistrates Court yesterday.
The charge relates to August 23 when the defendant was detained after attempting to board a flight from Belfast International Airport to Spain.
He appeared via videolink from Maghaberry Prison where he has been in custody since his arrest. At the time the National Crime Agency said officers recovered around €23,000 (£20,000) at the scene.
After being told he was being remanded in continuing custody until a week before Christmas, Gilligan told the court: “I declared the money to the customs, I committed no crime whatsoever.”
Regarding bail he said: “I never failed to turn up for bail in my life.”
He told how he had always honoured conditions adding: “I’m an old man now, I can’t be looking over my shoulder”.
Gilligan, of Greenfort Crescent, West Dublin, confirmed his name to the court and said he could hear proceedings.
District Judge Liam Mcnally said he had been told at the last hearing in the case in October the full file was to be submitted on November 1.
A prosecutor told the court it had been received but one of their officials wants to meet with investigating officers on Friday and asked for a further adjournment.
Judge Mcnally said that was “progress” but defence barrister Plunkett Nugent said it was “very limited progress”.
The judge remanded Gilligan in continuing custody to December 17 when, he said, progress in the case could again be reviewed.