Irish drug dealer set for release from prison

John Gilligan in 2008. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA

One of Ireland's most notorious drug dealers, whose gang murdered the campaigning journalist Veronica Guerin, will be released from prison on Tuesday.

John Gilligan was sentenced to 20 years for importing drugs to the Republic in 2001. He had already served several years on remand in an English jail awaiting extradition to Ireland.

Prior to her murder on the outskirts of Dublin in 1996, Guerin had been investigating Gilligan's criminal empire. He was never convicted in connection with her killing, but Gilligan made threats to the journalist and her young son while she was looking into his lifestyle and wealth.

Before his release Gilligan said he would be making no statements to the media and would not do so even if he was offered

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Ireland austerity budget announced as markets cling to debt ceiling deal hopes - as it happened

"Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin (left) and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan deliver the 2014 Budget at Government Buildings, Dublin." width

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Ireland announces more budget cuts despite recovery

Michael Noonan, Ireland's finance minister. In his budget, one in 10 of the over-70s will lose access to free healthcare. Photograph: Cathal Mcnaughton/Reuters

Ireland's recovery is well under way, according to the country's finance minister, but its government asked pensioners and the young unemployed on Tuesday to shoulder the burden of yet another austerity budget.

Michael Noonan announced cuts totalling

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Ireland closes loopholes that led to tax haven allegations

"Noonan: 'Let me be crystal clear. Ireland wants to be part of the solution to this global tax challenge, not part of the problem.' Photograph: Art Widak/Demotix/Corbis"/

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The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is wrong to claim that austerity is coming to an end | Michael Burke

Anti-austerity protesters in politician masks gather on O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre as the Irish government announces its budget for 2014. Photograph: Brendan Donnelly/Brendan Donnelly/Demotix/Corbis

Ireland is being held up once more as the star pupil of the austerity school of economics in Europe, with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny arguing that his government is exiting the bailout programme set by the troika of European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF. He says the era of austerity is coming to an end.

Both of these claims are clearly questionable, but they do illuminate some important features of the situation in Europe

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