John Gilligan has lost a Supreme Court appeal to have his trial before the Special Criminal Court stopped. Mr Gilligan is accused of the murder of Veronica Guerin. His lawyers had appealed a High Court refusal to the Supreme Court for a judicial review of his bid to have his trial for the murder and other charges removed from the Special Criminal Court.
Counsel for John Gilligan argued that his trial could not be heard in the Special Criminal Court, as that court was established to deal with subversive activities following unrest in Northern Ireland. Michael O'Higgins SC, said that, if his client was to be tried there, a new proclamation should be made to deal with organised crime and drug dealing. However, that appeal was turned down this morning.
