The High Court has refused John Gilligan legal aid in a constitutional challenge he is taking against the Criminal Assets Bureau's attempts to confiscate assets worth an estimated €17m.
John Gilligan is currently serving a 20-year sentence in Portlaoise Prison for smuggling cannabis resin worth €20,000.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Kevin Feeney said the High Court cannot allow itself to be used 'as a review' for the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the relevant section of the Proceeds of Crime Act (1996), which Gilligan is challenging, is constitutional.
Mr Justice Feeney noted that the basis of Gilligan's current challenge was not presented to the courts on any of a number of previous occasions, when Gilligan had the opportunity to do so.
He said that he 'must regard as precious this court's time', and that 'drip feed litigation' cannot be facilitated by the provision of legal aid.
Gilligan's constitutional challenge will be heard at the High Court later this month. He was not in court for today's decision.
The CAB has been attempting to seize Gilligan's assets, including the 77-acre Jessbrook Equestrian Centre and lands at Mucklon at Enfield in Co Kildare, for ten years.
The assets are also understood to include three houses, six vehicles, and 16 bank accounts.
In 2001, Gilligan was convicted of smuggling 20,000kgs of cannabis resin, but acquitted of the charge of murdering journalist Veronica Guerin.
His original sentence of 28 years was reduced to 20 years on appeal.
