Carol Rooney, John Gilligan's alleged partner

Carol Rooney, from Palmerstown in Dublin, worked in bookmaker's shop where John Gilligan allegedly gambled large amounts of money. They are alleged to have had a relationship after John Gilligan asked her out. She was 18 at the time.

He is alleged to have bought expensive presents for her, including a car, and rented a house for her in Kildare. Carol Rooney is alleged to have accompanied John Gilligan on trips to Amsterdam to exchange money from drug dealing.

After the murder of Veronica Guerin, investigating gardaí say Carol Rooney gave them a statement implicating John Gilligan, Brian Meehan, John Traynor and Dutchy Holland in the murder. She would not testify in court.

Gardaí say she told them that she had witnessed John Gilligan, Brian Meehan and John Traynor planning the murder of Veronica Guerin in a house in Kildare.

They also say she told them that she heard Dutchy Holland giving John Gilligan a "full account" of how he [Holland] had shot Veronica Guerin shortly after she was killed.

It was reported that she left Ireland in August 1996 for Australia.