NOTORIOUS Irish drug dealer John Gilligan has fled to Britain following the killing of his bodyguard, it has emerged.
The 62-year-old gangster was wheeled from his hospital bed into a car that boarded a ferry to Holyhead in the early hours of yesterday morning, St Patrick's Day.
It is believed that the frail 62-year-old is now in Birmingham where he has some relatives.
The former gangland boss checked himself out of hospital in Dublin but is likely to require significant medical treatment following the attempt on his life on March 1.
Gilligan was shot multiple times at his brother’s house in Clondalkin and suffered a broken leg after a bullet shattered one of his bones.
It is believed that he eventually plans to make his way to Amsterdam, where he will hide out from the Irish gangland rivals who want him dead.
Yesterday the Irish Independent reported that he was discharged from James Connolly Memorial Hospital under armed garda escort at around midnight on Sunday and quickly left the country.
Gilligan’s decision to flee Ireland came after Stephen “Dougie” Moran, his ‘minder’, was shot dead at his home in the Earlsfort estate in Clondalkin at 7.30pm on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to the scene and Moran was rushed to Tallaght Hospital, but died later.
Gardaí today launched an appeal for witnesses and are gathering CCTV footage from the victim's home.
A burned-out car was located yesterday in Glen Vale, Lucan, and Gardaí are investigating whether it was used in the attack.
See More: Dublin, Gangland, Irish, John Gilligan
