Police are following 'international lines of inquiry' in the case of a Dublin man accused of trying to smuggle £23,000 out of Northern Ireland, a judge has heard.
A prosecuting lawyer also told Antrim Magistrates Court that while the investigation into 66-year-old John Gilligan 'is in its early stages', the file has been assigned to a PPS officer and police have a mobile phone to be examined.
Gilligan, from Greenforth Crescent, Dublin, is in custody accused of attempting to remove criminal property from Northern Ireland on August 23 this year.
It is understood the charge arises after officers from the National Crime Agency arrested him at Belfast International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Spain and seized around €23,000 in cash.
Gilligan initially appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court last month when he was refused bail.
Appearing in Antrim today via videolink from Maghaberry Prison, as the prosecution sought an adjournment for four weeks, defence solicitor Jim McGinnis asked for the "shortest possible adjournment" so that "momentum is maintained."
"Mr Gilligan is 66 and he doesn't enjoy good health," said the solicitor, revealing that since he was remanded to Maghaberry "he has already had to be taken to hospital."
"He was badly injured during an attempt on his life in 2014 when he was shot six times," Mr McGinnis told the court.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said he would have to recuse himself from hearing the case because before taking up his position on the bench, "I was previously a partner in a firm that represented Mr Gilligan... therefore it would not be appropriate for me to rule on the case."
The judge said he would adjourn the case for a week but in the meantime, he had emailed the resident judge in Coleraine Magistrates Court to see if he would take the case on while still keeping it in the county court division.
However, he told the PPS and defence lawyers that the judge is currently on annual leave and may not have access to his email.
With Gilligan remanded back into custody to appear again next Tuesday, Mr McGinnis asked for him to be held back for a videolink consultation.
