28 years for drug dealer cleared of Guerin murder
John Gilligan was today cleared at Dublin’s Special Criminal Court of ordering the murder of investigative journalist Veronica Guerin but jailed for 28 years for drug offences.
Judge Diarmuid O’Donovan told the non-jury court that although there were 'grave suspicions' of Gilligan’s complicity in the murder, the prosecution had not proved the charge 'beyond all reasonable doubts'.
Gilligan, 48, was cleared of ordering the 1996 shooting of journalist Ms Guerin and four further charges of possessing arms and ammunition.
He was found guilty of 11 counts of importing and possessing cannabis resin with intent to supply.
