Guerin accused earns €1,000 giving legal advice

A CONVICTED drug dealer, named as the killer of Veronica Guerin, has admitted earning up to €1,000 by giving legal advice to fellow inmates in the State’s most high secure prison.

Patrick “Dutchy” Holland, who claims he is the victim of a miscarriage of justice and vehemently denies killing the journalist, made the admission in an interview with the Irish Examiner from inside Portlaoise Prison.

Other inmates seek him out for advice, knowing the 63-year-old’s reputation as a jailhouse lawyer. He has spent much of the last two decades behind bars, having been convicted of armed robbery, possession of explosives and, in 1997, the supply of cannabis.

Mr Holland said he gave advice to lots of prisoners, before admitting he recently made €1,000.

It was because of his reputation as a behind-bars legal expert that Mr Holland said he first met John Gilligan when the notorious gangland boss asked for advice when they were both serving time in Portlaoise Prison in the early 1990s.

On the outside, Mr Holland said he did some printing work for Mr Gilligan and also advised him when Ms Guerin accused the gang leader of assault. “I always said he could not lose it as he had three witnesses to say it had not happened,” said Mr Holland.

Ms Guerin was shot dead in June 1996 just days before the case was due to be heard.

But Mr Holland, who was named in court as the main garda suspect, denies the claim.

He has never been charged with the murder.

He also claims his conviction for distributing cannabis is a miscarriage of justice.

This claim will be tested in the High Court. A date for hearing is due to be set on October 20 and he expects it to be heard before the end of the year. Mr Holland has taken a number of court challenges since he was arrested and charged with drugs offences in 1997.

He has challenged a €300,000 demand from the Criminal Assets Bureau, the legality of his detention, and a claimed gag on speaking to the media about his case.

His believes he was “fitted up” on the drugs charge, claiming the evidence of the main witness against him is discredited.

The witness, Charles Bowden, claims Mr Holland was a distributor for Mr Gilligan’s gang and went by the name of The Wig.