Accused 'threatened' reporter

Veronica Guerin with her family

A man accused of murdering investigative journalist Veronica Guerin had threatened her if she wrote articles about him, a court has heard.

Ms Guerin, 37, a reporter for Ireland's Sunday Independent newspaper, was shot six times at point blank range by a gunman riding pillion on a motorbike at traffic lights outside Dublin.

John Gilligan, 48, has pleaded not guilty to the murder in June 1996, and also to 15 separate drugs and firearms offences allegedly committed between 1994 and 1996.

John Gilligan arrives for a previous court hearing

Dublin Central Criminal Court heard from Felix McEnroy, a barrister who had represented both Ms Guerin and Mr Gilligan.

He said Ms Guerin came to him on 15 September 1995, the day after she was allegedly beaten up by Mr Gilligan.

Mr McEnroy said that while she was with him, she took a call on her mobile phone from Mr Gilligan - the barrister said he recognised his voice - who allegedly threatened her.

'I will shoot you'

Mr McEnroy said he heard Mr Gilligan threaten to kidnap her son "if you do one thing on me or if you write about me".

"I will shoot you - do you understand what I am saying?"

Peter Charleton, prosecuting, said Mr Gilligan later ordered two of his associates to carry out the killing.

Brian Meehan: Jailed for life

On 25 June 1996, the day before Ms Guerin's death, Gilligan spoke to two police officers outside a court in County Kildare, where he was facing charges of assaulting her.

He allegedly told the officers: "This case will never get off the ground."

Mr Charleton said Mr Gilligan was driven to Dublin airport that same day by his solicitor and boarded a plane to Amsterdam.

Killed by pillion passenger

Mr Charleton said an associate of Mr Gilligan, Brian Meehan, trailed Ms Guerin as she left court in Naas, Co Kildare, where she had been answering a speeding charge.

When Ms Guerin stopped at traffic lights on the outskirts of Dublin, she was gunned down by a pillion passenger on Mr Meehan's motorbike.

Mr Charleton said: "Bullet wounds to her back suggested that she died as she apparently attempted to climb out through the passenger door."

He said: "It does make the slightest difference whether John Gilligan pulled the trigger or not.

Veronica Guerin's brother Jimmy arrives at court with his wife

"It does not make the slightest difference that John Gilligan was out of the country at the time - he was in command of those events."

Mr Charleton said: "John Gilligan had Veronica Guerin killed in order to protect his drugs empire and to ensure that he did not go to jail at a time when he was making a great deal of money."

Mr Charleton said profits from the alleged drug sales was travelling back to Holland where it was converted from Irish and UK cash into Dutch currency by Mr Gilligan's associate Martin Baltus, who is due to give evidence.

Mr Charleton added: "The amount of money being exported increases after the murder of Veronica Guerin."

Mr Meehan and another man are already serving life sentences for her murder.

The case was adjourned until Thursday.