Desperate texts reveal John Gilligan’s harsh life behind bars in Spain
Irish crime boss jailed for pink cocaine operation begs for money from prison
John Gilligan, the 73-year-old Irish gangster based in Spain, is enduring a difficult time behind bars following his December arrest for running a large-scale pink cocaine laboratory believed to have produced drugs worth €8 million. Gilligan, once Ireland’s most notorious drug dealer and accused of involvement in the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, is now reportedly begging for financial help through WhatsApp messages sent from prison.Gilligan, nicknamed 'Factory John' due to his history with warehouse heists, is currently held at Forcalent prison in Alicante. Friends say he is "washed up" and broke, unable to pay his legal fees accumulated during numerous court proceedings. Recent leaked WhatsApp texts circulating in Spain and Ireland plead for donations to cover his bail, with messages urging, "John helped loads in his life and now he needs help money wise, no amount too small."
His December arrest came after a lengthy surveillance operation named Operation Overlord, carried out by elite Spanish anti-drug police and the UK’s National Crime Agency. Gilligan was found at a two-bedroom apartment in Costa Blanca, situated near Torrevieja, which police say belonged to his ex-partner Sharon Oliver. The police discovered the drug lab, along with a revolver hidden in an external wall, during the raid. Oliver, who had been arrested previously for drug-related offences but was later cleared of involvement in Gilligan’s operation, had reportedly left the property before the bust.
Once Ireland’s most powerful drug dealer, Gilligan lost dominance following accusations of ordering the 1996 murder of Sunday Independent journalist Veronica Guerin near Dublin. Despite being acquitted of the murder, he was later convicted and sentenced to 28 years for cannabis smuggling, serving 17 years before release in 2013. Since moving to Spain, Gilligan has been arrested multiple times, including a 2020 bust where cannabis and prescription drugs were found, but managed to secure bail.
Alongside police action, Gilligan has drawn renewed public attention. His criminal legacy remains controversial. His arrests and trials have involved dramatic moments such as his son’s failure to appear in court, the issuing of international arrest warrants, and the exposure of the pink cocaine factory. Interviews and documentaries released in recent years have shed light on his life and criminal activities, including a three-part series titled Confessions of a Crime Boss and his memoir, The Gilligan Tapes, where he expressed fears of dying in prison and regrets about his life choices.
Despite his notoriety, Gilligan has admitted in court that the murder of Guerin marked "the beginning of the end" for him. The brutal killing of the journalist, who was investigating his gang, led to sweeping legal reforms in Ireland, including the creation of the Criminal Assets Bureau to seize illicit wealth. Guerin's story has since been immortalised in film, with actress Cate Blanchett portraying her relentless pursuit of justice.
Today, imprisoned and reliant on outside support, John Gilligan remains a stark figure remaining deeply entangled in Spain’s criminal justice system while awaiting further charges that might take years to process.
Image: Archive
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