‘flight risk’ | 

John Gilligan’s son denied bail in Spain after being extradited on drug charges

Convicted criminal John, 71, remains on bail despite being warned he faces more than eight years in jail if found guilty of drugs and weapons charges.

Yesterday at 13:10

John Gilligan’s son Darren is languishing in prison in Spain after being remanded in custody following his extradition from Ireland.

The pair are due to be tried later this year at a Costa Blanca court following their October 2020 arrests after a surveillance operation by specialist drugs and organised crime investigators.

Convicted criminal John, 71, remains on bail despite being warned he faces more than eight years in jail if found guilty of drugs and weapons charges.

But his son is expected to stay behind bars until he is hauled into the dock at a courtroom in Torrevieja after he made himself a wanted man by absconding before being held in Ireland on a European arrest warrant earlier this year.

Darren’s hopes of avoiding incarceration by volunteering to be surrendered to Spain at a hearing in Dublin in June failed to persuade a Costa Blanca investigating judge he should be given pre-trial bail following his return.

A warrant for his arrest was issued following his no-show at a courthouse last October where he and his dad were among nine people due to take the stand before the trial was suspended.

A court official, confirming the 47-year-old was now behind bars after he was flown back to Spain last month, said today: “The man held on a European Arrest Warrant issued by a court in Torrevieja and arrested in Dublin in April is currently in prison in Spain.

“He was remanded in custody to guarantee his appearance at his upcoming trial