The Special Criminal Court has asked the convicted drugs-dealer, John Gilligan, to answer allegations that he made more than £14 million from his criminal activity.
The State is seeking to confiscate £14.2 million which it alleges was Gilligan's profit from importing 20,000 kg of cannabis resin into the State over a two-year period.
The court has heard the State wants the High Court to appoint a receiver to realise Gilligan's assets, which allegedly include an equestrian centre at Jessbrook, Co Kildare, two houses in Lucan, a house at Blanchardstown, Dublin, six vehicles, 16 bank accounts and over £5 million he staked in bets.
The court ordered Gilligan yesterday to furnish a statement setting out to what extent he accepts the State's allegations or to indicate any matters which he proposes to rely on to rebut the allegations.
The court ruled that Gilligan should furnish the statement by December 4th and it set December 10th as the date for the hearing of the State's application.
Gilligan (49), with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, was convicted on March 15th of 11 offences alleging that he unlawfully imported cannabis resin into the State on various dates between July 1st, 1994, and October 6th, 1996.
They also included that he unlawfully possessed cannabis resin for sale or supply on the same dates and that on or about October 3rd, 1996, at Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harold's Cross, Dublin, he had cannabis resin for sale or supply.
He was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment.
He was cleared of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin on June 26th, 1996.