Ireland 10 March 2006: The Mirror, Eire edition, p11: Geraldine Gilligan is to lift the lid on her life as the wife of crime lord John in an explosive TV interview.
A team from RTE's Prime Time flew to Spain to interview Geraldine, in the presence of her lawyer Giovanni di Stefano, where she denied being the "Godmother Of Crime".
She also sets the record straight about her life with the gangster.
Geraldine then told of her love for her grandchildren and her family and life without her husband - cleared of killing journalist Veronica Guerin but serving 20 years for drugs offences.
The interview will be shown just a month before the 10th anniversary of Veronica's death.
Di Stefano told the Irish Daily Mirror yesterday that his client denies she is Godmother Of Crime.
He said: "Geraldine is a loving mother and grandmother. She wants to set the record straight and that is why she conducted this interview." Geraldine talked to RTE in Alicante, where she runs a pub called The Judges Chambers.
Her husband is suspected of laundering up to EUR30million by buying properties in Spain with the help of Liam Judge, who died in 2004.
He also owns two houses in LCo Dublin, and an equestrian centre at Jessbrook, Co Kildare.
The Criminal Assets Bureau, however, may confiscate this after a court ruling in January. John Gilligan is currently serving his prison term in Portlaoise jail.
His wife has written a book called The Right Time which will include her version of Gilligan's assault against Ms Guerin when she arrived at his house to interview him in 1995.
She said: "I decided to write my story because of the many untruths written about me.
"At first I didn't care but then I realised I simply had to put my side of things. Only then can people make up their minds."
Her book tells the story of how she met Gilligan, and will feature many never-before-seen photos.
John Gilligan's book Summary Justice has also been completed and will hit the shelves later this year.
It will feature trial pictures, letters, notes jotted down during his time in British and Irish jails, and will cover the years 1996 to 2005.
Gilligan said: "Too many untruths and half truths were written about me that my side of things has never been aired other than in court. It's time everyone knew about the Irish legal system and I hope those who read the book will understand Irish justice is not all it's said to be."
The Late Late Show is lining up an exclusive interview with Patrick "Dutchy" Holland, who is suspected of involvement in the Guerin murder, when he is released from prison next month.
Byeline: By Jimmy Cunningham
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