ON THE second day of his committal hearing at Belmarsh Magistrates Court, John Gilligan sits back smiling, fiddles with his glasses and generally surveys all about him as a former business associate and British Customs and Excise officers give evidence against him.
Earlier in the week, during cross examination of a former business associate, Mr John Dunne, Mr Gilligan continually referred to his own notes as he sat in the dock flanked by three police officers.
He looked across the court to Mr Duane only briefly while he gave his evidence. Essentially, the prosecution, led by Mr Nigel Peters, QC, believes their business relationship, whereby Mr Dunne took part in importing spare parts for trucks, was "bogus".
Using two books of photographs Mr Gilligan's defence counsel, led by Ms Clare Montgomery, has questioned Mr Duane extensively on the identification of the wooden and cardboard boxes in which the "spare parts" were transferred from Holland to Ireland, via Cork.
During Mr Dunne's evidence, Mr Gilligan stared at the ceiling, leaning back on his bench to rest his arms, and occasionally looked to the press bench where eight or more journalists sat taking notes.
"I only knew him as John", Mr Dunne told the court before he was asked by the prosecution counsel to make a formal identification of the man in the dock.
"I never met or had dealings with a man called Martin Cahill ... I have not met a man nicknamed `The Monk'", he said at one point.
He was also questioned about the importation of cattle growth hormone to Ireland on behalf of the Irish Navy or Army.
To this question he stated: "No". What about the theft of cigarettes, he was asked by Mr Gilligan's counsel, Ms Clare Montgomery. Again he replied: "No".