Ireland Named in reporting
John Gilligan
Born between June 1951 and March 1952, from the ages reported. 5 reports across 3 cases, 17 Oct 2021 to 26 Jun 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Accused, suspect
- Born
- Between June 1951 and March 1952, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Murder, Controlling a criminal gang
- Where
- Co. Dublin, Co. Sligo, Co. Kildare
- Reporting
- 5 reports, 17 Oct 2021 to 26 Jun 2026
- Outlets
- irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, extra.ie
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Meehan could walk free in Veronica Guerin murder, Dublin Murder · Co. Dublin
Veronica Guerin, a woman aged 36, was shot dead at the junction of the Boot Road and Naas Road in Dublin on 26 June 1996 after attending a speeding summons hearing in Naas. Brian Meehan, a man, was convicted at the Special Criminal Court in 1999 and sentenced to life for the murder, with Patrick Eugene Holland named in court as the suspected pillion passenger who fired the shots. John Traynor, a man, was arrested with Meehan in Amsterdam in 1997 but was later released, and died aged 73 in Kent, UK, in 2021. John Gilligan, a man, was acquitted of the murder but received a suspended sentence in Spain in 2023 for a drug trafficking case. Meehan, now 61, has been allowed out of jail on some weekends and could walk free for good in 2026.
No stage yetAccused, suspect · 3 reports - Family issues plea to convicted Kildare murder killer on 30th anniversary Murder · Co. Kildare
Veronica Guerin, 36, was shot several times at point blank range while sitting in her car at traffic lights on the Naas dual carriageway in Co Kildare on 26 June 1996. Brian Meehan, 58, drove hitman Patrick 'Dutchy' Holland on a motorbike to carry out the killing, which was ordered by John Gilligan. Meehan was convicted by the Special Criminal Court in December 1999 and sentenced to life, while Gilligan was charged but found not guilty. Meehan is now serving his sentence at Shelton Abbey open prison in Co Wicklow and has been granted temporary day releases under conditions that include breaking all links with Gilligan. The Guerin family issued a plea to Meehan on the 30th anniversary of her death in June 2026, asking him to acknowledge his role in the murder.
Sentenced, 1 Sep 2023Accused · 1 report - Sligo man jailed for 11 years for directing a criminal gang Controlling a criminal gang · Co. Sligo
Barry Young, 38, a man from Sligo, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 11 January 2022 while on his way to Spain and charged with directing a 20-member criminal gang operating in Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Galway and the Alicante area of Spain between October 2019 and January 2022, along with two money laundering offences relating to €27,100. He pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in March 2023. On 31 July 2023, Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced him to 12 years with the final 12 months suspended, an effective 11-year term. John Gilligan, 71, a man based in Torrevieja, Spain, faces separate Spanish charges including sending drugs to Ireland by post and unlawful possession of a Colt Python .357 Magnum found buried in his garden in 2020.
Sentenced, 31 Jul 2023Suspect · 1 report
Timeline
every report naming John Gilligan, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 26 Jun2026What happened to the killers of Veronica Guerin?accused, John Gilligan, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Gilligan
- 1 Sep2023Only man jailed for murder of Veronica Guerin to start getting day releases soonaccused, John Gilligan, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Gilligan
- 30 Mar2023Gardai in Spain to land fatal blow to Irish crime gang 'helped' by John Gilligansuspect, John Gilligan, 71, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Gilligan
- 27 Oct2021John 'The Coach' Traynor 'has blood on his hands' over Veronica Guerin murdersuspect, John Gilligan, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Gilligan
- 17 Oct2021Watch: Paul Williams on the murder that changed Ireland forever - Extra.iesuspect, John Gilligan, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Gilligan
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.