The Special Criminal Court was told today that Mr John Gilligan reclaimed over £45,000 which was found by gardaí in a car driven by Brian Meehan, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Veronica Guerin.
Sergeant David Sherry said he was in a patrol car which stopped the car being driven by Meehan in Dorest St, Dublin on August 24th, 1994. He noticed a plastic bag on the floor behind the front seat and found that it contained a large amount of cash in bundles and wrapped in elastic bands.
Meehan and another man were arrested and taken to Fitzgibbon St Garda Station and the money when counted was found to be IR£46,175 and Stg£120.
Sergeant Sherry told the court he saw Meehan on the steps of the garda station just after his release and he introduced him to another man who said he was John Gilligan. Meehan told Sergeant Sherry that this is the man he was "minding the money for."
In December that year Mr Gilligan and Meehan were present at the Dublin District Court when an application was made under the Police Property Act for the return of the money. The District Judge made an order returning all the money to Mr Gilligan and it was returned to him on December 23rd, 1994.
It was the 23rd day of the trial of John Gilligan (48), with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare; and HM Prison Belmarsh, London, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sunday Independent crime reporter Veronica Guerin (37) at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin on June 26th, 1996.
Mr Gilligan also denies fifteen other counts alleging the importation of cannabis and firearms and ammunition offences.
The prosecution has claimed that John Gilligan was "in control and command'' of a criminal gang that imported and distributed large amounts of cannabis and that he organised the murder of Ms Guerin. The trial is continuing.