GILLIGAN IN COURT OVER PHONE IN PRISON CHARGE.

Byline: SARAH STACK

JOHN Gilligan appeared in court yesterday charged with having a phone in Ireland's maximum security prison.

The 57-year-old, who said he will be representing himself in the case, was brought before Portlaoise District Court where he was charged with possession of a Nokia and Meteor Sim card on July 30 last year without the governor's permission.

Gilligan is serving a 20-year sentence for drug offences at Portlaoise Prison which houses some of the country's most notorious crooks.

If convicted, he could face an extra five years inside. The Courts Service said Judge Gerard Haughton adjourned the case until next week.

Gilligan is one of the most notorious Irish gangland figures. In June 1996 he was accused and acquitted of ordering the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

He denied any involvement with her death and was cleared after a lengthy trial in the Special Criminal Court.

He was also cleared of firearms charges. But he was convicted of possession of an estimated 20,000kg of cannabis resin over a two-year period and was jailed for 28 years, which was later reduced 20 years.

Two years later he lost a Supreme Court appeal against his conviction for possession for sale and supply.

Gilligan is not due for release until 2013 but has claimed he will be freed for good behaviour in early 2011.

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