John Gilligan has lost his latest appeal to have his 20-year prison sentence for drug dealing reduced.
The Supreme Court has ruled by three to two that it had jurisdiction to hear his application to have his sentence reduced to 12 years, but dismissed the appeal.
Gilligan was originally sentenced to 28 years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for possessing cannabis resin for sale or supply.
That sentence was later reduced to 20 years by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Gilligan brought an appeal to the Supreme Court asking it to alter the sentence.
In a majority verdict issued this morning by Ms Justice Susan Denham, the court ruled that it did have the jurisdiction to consider the appeal, but having considered all the factors it had decided not to alter the sentence.
Gilligan attended this morning's Supreme Court hearing having been brought from Portlaoise Prison amid a heavy security presence.
