CAB to apply for seizure of Gilligan's centre

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is to apply for a High Court order later today directing that the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, owned by the family of the convicted drug dealer, John Gilligan, be handed over to the State.

The property and its lands outside Enfield, Co Kildare has been the subject of a CAB freezing order for the past seven years.

Under proceeds of crime legislation, a seven-year period must elapse before assets which are frozen can be seized under court order. The equestrian centre, together with 77 acres of land and three houses, is estimated to be worth more than €8 million.

The case is listed for mention under the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan this morning, and for hearing this afternoon. The order is being sought under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Yesterday the Sunday World quoted the head of the CAB, Chief Supt Felix McKenna, saying the High Court action was "of huge interest" to the bureau.

The freezing order was the first major order sought by the CAB after it was established in 1996.

The granting of the order would be "a landmark case" for CAB, Chief Supt McKenna was reported as saying.

Last year, the High Court ordered that €100,00, the proceeds of the sale of two apartments owned by Dublin criminal Brian Meehan, should be paid over to the Exchequer.

John Gilligan is currently serving a 20-year term for drugs offences. In November 2003, the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected an appeal by Gilligan against his conviction but reduced the 28-year jail sentence to 20 years.