Drug baron Gilligan begins legal action to keep Jessbrook in Co Kildare

The Supreme Court has begun hearing an application by convicted drug dealer John Gilligan and his family to try to stop the Criminal Assets Bureau selling three properties.

CAB seized an eight-bedroom house at Jessbrook near Johnstownbridge in north Co Kildare and two houses in west Dublin 20 years ago.

Gilligan, his son Darren and his daughter Tracy are each represented by senior barristers from the UK.

His lawyers are seeking to overturn previous court orders including Supreme Court orders.

They are also appealing under the European Convention of Human Rights.

Lawyers for CAB described Gilligan's application as an "Alice through the looking glass" appeal that was dealing with issues that had already been decided years ago by the High Court and the Supreme Court.

The hearing continues.