John Gilligan's solicitor, Mr Joe Rice, vowed to appeal the 28-year sentence his client received for drugs charges from the Special Criminal Court today.
"The fight goes on to establish his innocence. Whilst he is relieved to have been acquitted of the firearms charges and the count of murder he is disappointed at the severity of the sentence," Mr Rice said.
"There will be an appeal against conviction and of course against the severity of that sentence.
"It seems to me that the sentence itself is unprecedented given the nature of the convictions and obviously his reaction is one of disappointment.
"There will be an appeal lodged against conviction as soon as possible," Mr Rice said.
Gilligan was convicted of 11 offences alleging he unlawfully imported cannabis resin into the State on various dates between July 1st, 1994, and October 6th, 1996; 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.
Gilligan was acquitted of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in 1996 and a number of firearms charges.