Gilligan, Meehan face Guerin murder charges

Two men are facing charges in connection with the murder of Veronica Guerin.

Two men are facing charges in connection with the murder of Veronica Guerin.

Mr John Gilligan is being held in Belmarsh high security prison after being arrested in Heathrow Airport on October 6th, 1996. Earlier this month he was remanded in custody until January 18th on drug trafficking charges in Britain.

He is appealing a court ruling allowing his trial in Britain to go ahead if attempts to extradite him to the Republic to face charges in relation to the Guerin murder fail. This appeal to the House of Lords is expected in February.

Mr Brian Meehan was arrested in a joint Dutch-Irish police operation in Amsterdam in October 1997. An Amsterdam court ruled that he should be extradited to face charges relating to drugs, firearms and the murder of Veronica Guerin.

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Mr Meehan appealed this ruling to the Dutch Supreme Court and the Dutch Minister for Justice. The appeal was turned down, and Mr Meehan was flown back to Ireland in September.

He was charged with the murder in the Special Criminal Court on September 3rd, and the trial is due to start on June 2nd.