The man accused of murdering Veronica Guerin reclaimed more than £46,000 which was found by gardai, the Special Criminal Court has been told. Sgt David Sherry yesterday said he was in a patrol car which stopped the car being driven by Brian Meehan in Dorset Street, Dublin, on August 24th, 1994. He noticed a plastic bag on the floor behind the front seat and found that it contained a large amount of cash in bundles and wrapped in elastic bands.
Meehan, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ms Guerin, and another man were arrested and taken to Fitzgibbon Street Garda station. The money amounted to £46,175 and £120 sterling.
Sgt Sherry said he saw Meehan on the steps of the Garda station just after his release and he introduced him to another man, who said he was Mr Gilligan. Meehan told Sgt Sherry that was the man he was "minding the money for".
That December, Mr Gilligan and Meehan were at the Dublin District Court when an application was made under the Police Property Act for the return of the money. The judge made an order returning the money to Mr Gilligan and it was returned on December 23rd, 1994.
It was the 23rd day of the trial of Mr Gilligan (48), with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; Jess brook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare; and HM Prison Belmarsh, London, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Guerin (37) at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, on June 26th, 1996.
He denies 15 counts alleging importation of cannabis and firearms and ammunition offences. The prosecution claims Mr Gilligan was "in control and command" of a gang which imported and distributed cannabis and that he organised the murder of Ms Guerin.
Earlier, a protected witness, Charles Bowden, told Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, for Mr Gilligan, that he was asked to give evidence against Mr Gilligan in England after he had signed a form saying he was prepared to go. He thought it was probably about the summer of 1997.
Bowden said he believed he would be giving evidence at a trial and he thought he was asked to go to England by Det Insp John O'Mahoney. Asked by Mr Justice O'Donovan if he knew what he would be giving evidence about, Bowden said: "I presume about drugs and guns, the same as my evidence here."
He was aware Mr Gilligan was involved in illicit tobacco trade which generated enormous amounts of cash. He agreed he had tried to minimise his involvement in wrongdoing when he was arrested in October 1996, but he denied he was still doing this.
Mr Justice O'Donovan asked if he was telling the court that when he got phone calls from Mr Gilligan he was expecting them. Bowden replied: "Yeah."
Re-examined by Mr Eamonn Leahy SC, prosecuting, Bowden said he used his mobile phone, which was in the name of Paul Conroy, when he spoke to Mr Gilligan.
The trial continues today.