GARDAI investigating the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin expect to arrest up to three more people by the end of the week.
A Garda team searched the Jessbrook estate in Co Kildare yesterday while the owner, Mrs Geraldine Gilligan, was being questioned in Lucan Garda station by detectives investigating the Guerin murder.
The wife of the convicted criminal Mr John Gilligan was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act at the estate at about 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Her two children Darren (22) and Tracey (23) were also arrested at their home in Lucan, Co Dublin on Tuesday at 8.30 a.m. Yesterday morning gardai extended the detention of the three for another 24 hours. Last night, Mr Darren Gilligan appeared at a special late sitting of Dublin District Court on a number of charges, including burglary.
The search team arrived at Jessbrook early yesterday equipped with metal detectors and spades. They searched the grounds of the 60 acre estate near Enfield and the seven bedroom bungalow, a 3,200 square metre equestrian arena, stables, outhouses and apartment buildings.
One senior Garda source said the search was routine. It was the obvious thing to do when we had possession of the place." And nothing significant had been found by last night.
"We'll have other arrests before the end of the week," the source said. "They won't be main players." Asked if the investigating team would move to arrest criminals outside the State, the source said this was "a long way down the road." Several files have been sent to the DPP by the Lucan investigation team.
Last July gardai seized documents from the house at Jessbrook and in November the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) seized property, including horses, household appliances and vehicles.
In February, the High Court ruled that Mrs Gilligan was not liable for a £1.6 million tax bill. The High Court was told the CAB would be taking further legal action against Mrs Gilligan. Interviewed by The Irish Times following the judgment, Mrs Gilligan said she was determined to stay at Jessbrook. "This is my home and I'm staying put." She said she believed her husband would return to Ireland as soon as he is freed.
Mr John Gilligan is on remand in Britain awaiting trial on drugs trafficking charges. He was arrested at Heathrow Airport on his [way to Amsterdam carrying a suitcase with £300,000 cash in various currencies.
