Labour Party spokesman on justice Mr Brendan Howlin welcomed the sentence handed out to John Gilligan for drugs offences today.
"Ireland will be a safer and better place with Gilligan behind bars," he said.
"It will be welcomed by all those who want to see this country freed from the scourge of illegal drugs, which has destroyed so many young lives.
"All the evidence heard by the Special Criminal Court pointed to the fact that Gilligan was a major criminal and gang leader, deeply involved in the drugs trade and other criminal activities."
