A bid by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) to have drug dealer John Gilligan and his family pay the costs of their marathon legal battle has failed at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court said it would make no order on the application by Cab for costs relating to proceedings dating back to 1996.
The decision means the Gilligans, most of whom were on legal aid, will not have to pay Cab's costs. During the proceedings, John Gilligan had sacked his lawyers and represented himself.
Today's decision followed the rejection by the Supreme Court in December of an appeal by the Gilligans against High Court orders that their assets were the proceeds of crime.
While rejecting their appeal, the Supreme Court said there was no reason why the Gilligans could not commence new proceedings in relation to their claim an injustice had been done to them. Those new proceedings were issued earlier this month in the High Court.
John Gilligan was back in the Supreme Court today where he argued he was not in any position to pay Cab's costs because "anything I have the State has taken off me so I won't be able to pay."
Mr Gilligan also said he wanted the Supreme Court to reconvene over his case because of "many errors" in its judgment of December 19th last.
In their original legal proceedings, the Gilligans sought to challenge orders made against them after Cab first applied to the High Court in 1996 to freeze their assets and in subsequent proceedings appointing a receiver to sell the properties on behalf of the State.
The Supreme Court appeal, heard over two days last October, was in relation to a number of challenges to the original freezing order, appointment of a receiver and disposal of the properties which include Jessbrook House in Enfield, Co Meath, where Mrs Geraldine Gilligan lives, an equestrian centre attached to it, the former family home in Blanchardstown and two houses in Lucan bought by Mr Gilligan for his son Darren and daughter Tracey.