Protected witness Charles Bowden told the Special Criminal Court today that the family of murdered journalist Veronica Guerin had sent him a message of support through the gardaí in support of his application for temporary release.
Bowden said that the Guerin family had supported him "because of my decision to give evidence."
He told Mr Michael O' Higgins SC, counsel for John Gilligan, that he had mentioned the family's support in a letter seeking temporary release from prison. Earlier Bowden said that his conditions in Arbour Hill were "contrary to prison law" and "punishment."
Bowden also told Mr O' Higgins that he has had discussions with a foreign witness protection programme. This emerged during questioning about the arrangements Bowden had reached with the Irish Witness Protection Programme about his life after his release from prison.
He said that he had been told that a house would be provided for him when he is relocated and that the mortgage will be paid by the State.
He also said that he has been told that his living expenses will be paid and that he will be provided with a car. He added: "A lot of things have to be taken on trust. The fine detail has yet to be worked out."
Bowden said he assumed his living expenses will be paid if he is in training or in education.
Asked about the value of the package he had arranged with the Witness Protection Programme, Bowden replied: "I have no idea of the overall value or cost of the package."
He said there was no written record of what arrangements had been worked out but there was an electronic record.
"If I act the maggot or don't live up to the guarantees that I have given about my future, then the State do have sanctions against me," he said.
He told Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, presiding, that he is due for release on September 6th this year.
He said he agreed that the Department of Justice will not consider his early release until this trial is over.
It was the twenty first day of the trial of John Gilligan (48), with addresses at Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; Jessbrook Equestrian Centre, Mucklon, Enfield, Co Kildare; and HM Prison Belmarsh, London, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sunday Independent crime reporter Veronica Guerin(37) at Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin on June 26th, 1996.
Gilligan also denies fifteen other counts alleging the importation of cannabis and firearms and ammunition offences.
The prosecution has claimed that John Gilligan was "in control and command" of a criminal gang that imported and distributed large amounts of cannabis and that he organised the murder of Ms Guerin.
The trial is continuing.