Convicted drug dealer John Gilligan has been cross-examining an official from the Criminal Assets Bureau at the High Court.
Gilligan is representing himself at the proceedings, which have been taken by CAB to appoint a receiver to a number of properties owned by Gilligan and his family.
Gilligan spent around 35 minutes cross-examining the CAB official, but many of his questions were not allowed as Mr Justice Kevin Feeney repeatedly informed him that his contributions were legal submissions rather than questions.
Gilligan raised the issue of tax settlements and asked the official if there had been any cases in which criminals walked free after settling a tax bill. He later asked the official if he thought it was right that criminals should be left with the proceeds of crime.
The CAB official told Gilligan that his tax bill would currently stand at around €2.5m, including interest.
Gilligan also raised an issue regarding his drugs conviction. He told the court that he was found in possession of just 180kg of cannabis and not 20,000kg as claimed by the media.
Gilligan again referred to Geraldine Gilligan as his ex-wife and it is likely that tomorrow Counsel for CAB will cross-examine her.
Gilligan concluded his cross-examination this evening and told the Court he had a number of legal submissions to make at a later date.
Sworn Affidavits
Geraldine Gilligan has said she had no knowledge that properties bought by the couple were paid for using the proceeds of crime.
In a sworn affidavit, Ms Gilligan said she thought her husband had made significant money from gambling.
Senior counsel for the CAB Michael McDowell read sworn affidavits this morning from the Gilligan family and a CAB official.
In the affidavit, the official claimed that Jessbrook Equestrian Centre was falling into disrepair and the front gates were pad-locked.
However Geraldine Gilligan claimed that she lives there and evidence of oil being purchased and repairs being carried out to gates at the property were included in her affidavit.
Geraldine Gilligan said she was not aware that money with a criminal origin was used to purchase the property she now owns, in the affidavit she said John Gilligan had made a substantial income from gambling.
In an affidavit John Gilligan himself also rejected the claim that Jessbrook and other properties owned by him and his family had fallen into disrepair.
He described Geraldine Gilligan as his estranged spouse, and said that she lived at Jessbrook.
His son, Darren, admitted that a house owned by him and his father in Lucan had been refurbished and was rented.
He said part of the rental income was used for repairs at the house and the remainder to fund him as his unemployment assistance was withdrawn in 1996.
The case resumes tomorrow morning.
