Mr John Gilligan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin in Dublin more than four years ago. His trial opened yesterday at the Special Criminal Court.
Mr Gilligan was arraigned on 16 counts, one for the murder of Ms Guerin and 15 for drugs and firearms offences.
He stood in the dock and replied: "Not guilty" as each count was read. When the last count was put to him, he replied: "My final answer is not guilty."
The court then heard legal submissions from Mr Gilligan's counsel, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, who submitted that his client should he discharged as he was not lawfully before the court.
Mr Peter Charleton SC, prosecuting, replied to the defence submissions, and Mr O'Higgins is due to continue his reply to Mr Charleton when the trial resumes today.
Mr John Gilligan (48), with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare; and HM Prison Belmarsh, London, pleads not guilty to the murder of Ms Guerin (37), a Sunday Independent crime reporter, at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, on June 26th, 1996.
He also denies 11 offences alleging that he imported cannabis into the State between July 1st, 1994, and October 6th, 1996; that he 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.
Mr Gilligan also pleads not guilty to four counts alleging possession of a Sten submachinegun, a silencer, two magazines, a 9mm Agram machine pistol, five Walther semiautomatic pistols, four magazines and 1,057 rounds of assorted ammunition with intent to endanger life, or to enable another person to endanger life, at Oldcourt Road, Tallaght, Dublin, between November 10th, 1995, and October 3rd, 1996.
After Mr Gilligan was arraigned, Mr Charleton said the Director of Public Prosecutions had certified that the ordinary courts were inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice and that Mr Gilligan should be tried at the Special Criminal Court.
Mr O'Higgins said it was his duty to ensure that Mr Gilligan got a fair trial. His client was being treated differently from other cases.
He said the first thing that was different about the trial was that there was no jury. Mr Gilligan was "probably the most vilified person ever to come before a court of trial". After the assassination of Ms Guerin, newspapers went out and photographed his home and gave details about him.
Mr Gilligan gave an interview later in which he admitted he was the person who was being referred to and since then every story written about him referred to him as "the self-confessed suspect in the Veronica Guerin case". Mr O'Higgins said Mr Gilligan was not lawfully before the court and should be discharged because the court had no jurisdiction to try him.
He also asked the court to conduct an inquiry into the events surrounding Mr Gilligan's extradition from Britain in February after he was arrested at Heathrow Airport, London, in October 1996.
Mr O'Higgins added that the court should prohibit the evidence of three prosecution witnesses, Charles Bowden, Russell Warren and John Dunne. He said Bowden and Warren had received immunity from the DPP for the murder of Ms Guerin.
Mr Charleton said that no deal was ever done with Bowden or Warren in return for their agreeing to give evidence. The court had no power to carry out an inquiry into the extradition of Mr Gilligan or to grant a habeas corpus order.
The trial continues today.