Gangster (29 page)

When Gilligan first went into prison, far from rehabilitating himself for society, he metamorphosed from a thief into a gangster. © Author’s private collection

John and Geraldine Gilligan pictured in happier times. © Author’s private collection

Gilligan working out in Portlaoise Prison. © Irish Daily Star on Sunday

Peter Mitchell (first) and Shay Ward (second). The two Dublin men went on the run when Charlie Bowden was recruited into the witness protection programme. The gardaí believe they are now living on the Costa del Sol. © Garda intelligence

John Traynor, aka the Coach, inducted Gilligan into the drugs business. After becoming Guerin’s criminal contact, he ordered the first gun attack on the journalist at her home in January 1996. He later told the author that it helped improve his street credibility. Traynor is now living on the Costa del Sol. © Author’s private collection

Thomas Coyle, pictured shortly after his acquittal for attempting to smuggle bearer bonds to Miami. Coyle put a IR£2 million contract on Charles Bowden on Gilligan’s behalf. © Terry Collins

Fachtna Murphy (left), Detective Chief Superintendent and Chief Bureau of the Criminal Assets Bureau, and Barry Galvin (right), Bureau Legal Officer. Murphy was later promoted to Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. © Photocall Ireland

Assistant Commissioner Tony Hickey, the police officer who led the hunt for Veronica Guerin’s killers. Hickey has since retired from the Garda force. © Author’s private collection

Charles Bowden with a blanket over his head, being led out of court after being sentenced to six years in prison. Bowden was a member of Gilligan’s gang and was the first prisoner to enter the witness protection programme. © Photocall Ireland