FLEEING gangster John Gilligan's ultimate plan is to make his way to Amsterdam to hide from gangsters here that want him dead.

The criminal fled to the UK in the early hours of yesterday after a failed assassination attempt earlier this month.

Gilligan checked out of hospital in a wheelchair looking gaunt and shaken after a two week stay, which is estimated to have cost taxpayers €35,000 in medical and garda security costs.

It is believed the Saturday night murder of Stephen 'Dougie' Moran – his driver and bodyguard – prompted the convicted drug trafficker to leave the country in fear for his life.

It was reported this morning that Gilligan will ultimately resettle in the Netherlands, which is home to a number of Irish criminals.

Gardai are investigating whether Gilligan is being put-up by his associate, Troy Jordan, who is understood to have a house near the English town of Blackpool.

The drug dealer has a number of allies across the water including the McCarthy/Dundon gang as well as friends and associates in Birmingham.

The gangster was rushed to a Blanchardstown hospital on Saturday March 1 after being gunned down at his brother's home in Clondalkin.

The total bill of €35,000 for Gilligan's hospital stay and security does not include surgery and theatre costs.

While in hospital Gilligan was operated on for injuries to his chest, stomach and leg. He also received stitches to a wound on his head after being grazed by a bullet in the attack which followed a family christening.

Gilligan was flanked by armed gardai just after midnight on Sunday and escorted to Dublin Port where he fled the country on a slow boat to Holyhead.

PENNILESS

Sources say that it is still "unclear" where Gilligan – who is almost penniless – will stay in the UK. It is believed his final destination is Amsterdam.

"There are a few possibilities but Jordan is definitely one of them," a source told the Herald.

Jordan was a founder director of Viper Debt Recovery and Repossession Services, established by veteran criminal Martin 'The Viper' Foley in 2005. He resigned as director in 2010.

In 2005, the Criminal Assets Bureau won a tax judgement against Jordan for €800,000, who has been spending his time between his Lancashire house in England, his home in Allenwood, Co Kildare, and Spain's Costa-Del-Crime.

HNEWS@HERALD.IE