Gilligan family left with only the "basics for living requirements"

IT was about 5.10 yesterday evening. The gardai had left the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre at Johnstown Bridge, Co Kildare. The sheriff and his assistants had gone, as had staff from the Criminal Assets Bureau. Along with them, they had taken a "huge quantity of equestrian equipment", as one garda put it, as well as furniture and household effects from the Gilligan home. The owners were left with the "basics for their living requirements", said the garda. It was bitterly cold and almost dark.

Mrs Geraldine Gilligan was visibly upset and did not want to talk. Her two children, Darren and Tracy, liaised between her and the reporters gathered at the door. Entrances to the house and the equestrian centre had been blocked until the gardai departed. They had been at the complex since 7 a.m.

Eventually, Mrs Gilligan came to the door, weeping. She had been "told by the guards in Lucan" last Sunday week that a raid such as occurred yesterday was likely to happen. She could not prevent it.

She said that she had been unable to respond to a tax assessment document.

Earlier, she had refused to speak to press reporters, but had given a brief interview to Tom McCaughren, of RTE, in which she accused the newspapers of naming her husband in connect ion with the death of journalist Veronica Guerin.

"Welcome to Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Horse and Riding School" proclaimed a large sign. "Trespassers Prosecuted" and "Authorised Personnel Only" read others.

At about 9 a.m. up to a dozen men had arrived, including the sheriff and staff from the Criminal Assets Bureau. They began an inventory of contents in the equestrian centre and the nearby house.

Between 15 and 20 gardai a small number of whom were armed, were present throughout the long cold day as men with scarves over their faces - some wearing dark glasses - came and went in lorries and a white Hiace van. Some of the vehicles had their front number plates removed. The 10 horses they removed were taken away in horse boxes.

The equestrian centre itself looks like an enormous advance factory. "You should see it inside", said one garda. But reporters were not allowed to do so. "They say it's as big as Millstreet", said another. Building materials, including large, loosely strewn concrete pipes, are scattered all around. A sign near the road reads: "Retention of permission sought for conversion of usage as additional stables, 39 in total, at rear of arena at Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Johnstown Bridge, Co Kildare", Mrs Geraldine Gilligan, Jessbrook Stud.

The house itself seems almost small from the road. Situated to the left of the equestrian centre, it is built on one level in the style of a bungalow. The house stretches much farther back than the modest frontage suggests. A newly tarmacadamed driveway leads up to it, copper topped neo Victorian lights on either side and newly planted trees supported by stakes along its entire length. Further to the left is a jumping arena with newly erected wooden fences and a wishing well.