Businessman to affirm guilty pleas month to handling drugs money.

A businessman who is due to give evidence in the trial of Mr John Gilligan
will affirm guilty pleas next month to handling drugs money.

Mr Russell Warren (34), a selfemployed director of D+R Building Cleaning,
with an address at Heatherview Terrace, Tallaght, is expected to affirm one
plea of stealing a motorcycle and 16 pleas in relation to moneylaundering
when he next appears at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Yesterday his case was adjourned to November 10th.

He has already pleaded guilty in Dublin District Court to the charges and
waived preliminary examination there.

Mr Warren, who is held in custody under a witness protection regime, is
charged with stealing a Kawasaki GPZ 750cc motorcycle at Royal Terrace
West, Dun Laoghaire, between May 15th and June 7th, 1996.

He has also pleaded guilty to handling £56,505 and £7,100 sterling on
September 30th, 1996, at Heatherview Drive, Tallaght, knowing that it, in
whole or part, directly or indirectly, represented the proceeds of another
person's proceeds of drugs distribution.

He further admitted that on or about September 28th, 1996, in the carpark
of the Belgard Inn, Tallaght, and on a date unknown between June 26th and
September 30th, 1996, he similarly handled sums of £10,000.

Mr Warren also pleaded guilty in the District Court to 13 further charges
of handling amounts unknown on dates from April 1st to September 30th, 1996.

He was expected to affirm these pleas in the Circuit Criminal Court
yesterday, but his counsel, Mr Paul O'Higgins SC, said he had received
papers from the State only a few days ago and needed time to read them
before properly advising his client.

"My client is most anxious to affirm these guilty pleas and to have the
case disposed of at the earliest possible moment, and I have little doubt
that he will affirm them," Mr O'Higgins told Judge Cyril Kelly.

"However, I would be failing in my duty to my client if I didn't first read
the papers before offering him proper advice." Mr O'Higgins also asked the
court to direct the preparation of a probation report.

Mr Eamonn Leahy SC, for the prosecution, noted that the case had been sent
forward from the District Court seven weeks ago and the prosecution was
anxious to proceed as soon as possible.

Judge Kelly remanded Mr Warren in continuing custody until November 10th
next.