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John Gilligan walks free from Portlaoise Prison last October Niall Carson/PA Wire

John Gilligan left Ireland last night after being discharged from hospital

The convicted criminal is reported to have taken a ferry from Dublin in the middle of the night.

CONVICTED CRIMINAL JOHN Gilligan is reported to have left Ireland by ferry late last night, immediately after being discharged from hospital.

The notorious gangland figure is believed to have been escorted by armed gardaí to the ferry terminal at Dublin Port at around midnight.

In a photograph on the Irish Independent front page, Gilligan is pictured in a wheelchair being brought out of James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, where he was being treated.

In the picture, he is wearing black trousers, a black coat and a black flat cap, and he is holding a plastic bag from Dunnes Stores.

Gilligan was shot four times just over a fortnight ago as he attended a family christening in Clondalkin.

His departure from the country comes in the wake of the shooting dead of Stephen ‘Dougie’ Moran, a close associate of Gilligan’s who was shot dead in Lucan on Saturday night.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s News at One, journalist Paul Williams said Gilligan’s departure was an “ignominious retreat from public life”.

Gilligan was acquitted of the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, but was sentenced to 28 years in prison for drug trafficking in 2001.

He was released from Portlaoise Prison last October. An attempt was made on his life just weeks later, when a gunman entered a pub close to where Gilligan was drinking. Gilligan later dismissed the attempt as a “Halloween prank”.

Gardaí could not immediately confirm that Gilligan was given an armed escort to the ferry port.

Read: Witness appeal after major criminal linked to John Gilligan gunned down >

Read: Armed gardaí dispatched to protect Gilligan in hospital >

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Oct 29th 2014, 2:36 PM

    Expecting temps in London towards the wkend of 20 degrees for the last wkend in October? Nuts. And it’s not global warming in case you tree lickers start workin up a sweaty lather!!

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    Mute Mike
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    Oct 29th 2014, 2:49 PM

    18 in Dublin, the last bit of warm weather before temperatures go back to average. Enjoy.

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    Mute Katie Collins
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    Oct 29th 2014, 3:38 PM

    Just spat my drink out laughing at ‘tree lickers’, thanks for that haha!

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    Mute Joanna
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    Oct 29th 2014, 4:07 PM

    I had no idea that’s what H&M stood for.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Oct 29th 2014, 6:40 PM

    Nor I. Stored for next table quiz..

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    Mute Mike
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    Oct 29th 2014, 2:22 PM

    Average temperatures in London were below average in August too. It was the coldest August on record. The bank holiday weekend in London in August was only 16 degrees. In 2013 it was 29 degrees.

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    Mute Ann-Marie Wallis
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    Oct 29th 2014, 3:50 PM

    Retailers have stock piled their woolies around this time of year and need to rid, their distribution networks will not afford to keep backed up goods for long without heavy discounting. All the fun stuff involved in the retail supply chain. Next are always seen as a high street staple in the UK, they are an extremely successful retailer that also cater well for the professional market (female business/office wear i.e. people with moolah). If Next feel the pinch now, you better believe that the clothing divisions in M&S and Debenhams will fare even worse.

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    Mute lelookcoco
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    Oct 29th 2014, 3:19 PM

    Guys – get your anoraks.

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