Guerin suspect to serve out sentence, insists McDowell

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday insisted Patrick Holland, who denies murdering journalist Veronica Guerin, would serve out his sentence in Portlaoise Prison.

The 66-year-old career criminal, who is serving a 12-year sentence for drugs offences, has again insisted he has been given an assurance he will be transferred to Mountjoy’s training unit and has been promised day release. However, Mr McDowell said yesterday: “In relation to Mr Holland, he will be serving his sentence in Portlaoise jail in its entirety.”

Holland is due to be released from prison next April.

Under normal circumstances, he could be expected to be eligible for transfer to a more liberal regime than that within the high security Portlaoise facility.

Nephew James Holland is adamant that his uncle, nicknamed Dutchy, has been told he will be transferred within days to the training unit and that he expects to be on day release by Monday at the latest.

“That’s not going to happen,” said a spokesperson for the Prison Service.

Holland is entitled to apply for a transfer but there is no question of him being encouraged to do so by the prison governor. Because he is serving a sentence for a serious offence, the transfer from a high to a less secure prison would not be easy.

If an inmate is serving more than seven years, the Parole Board would be involved in mapping out a pre-release programme.

Parole Board chair Gordon Holmes said of Holland’s claims: “I have no information that would lead me to that conclusion.”