Ireland 9 April 2006: Sunday Mirror, Eire Edition: Dutchy Holland believes he got the better of Michael McDowell - by arranging to get out of jail eight hours early.
Justice Minister McDowell vowed the alleged killer of Veronica Geurin would serve the maximum sentence possible.
But Holland's lawyer Giovanni di Stefano claimed Minister McDowell would be left "fuming" because his client got out early.
Holland was released one minute after midnight on Saturday morning from Portlaoise Jail - eight hours earlier than expected.
Di Stefano said he arranged for the early release behind the Justice Minister's back.
He said: "McDowell will be fuming - the first he knew about the release was when he saw it on TV this morning.
"I arranged it when I was in the prison on Friday morning to see Paddy, John Gilligan and some IRA prisoners."
"I had a 10-minute chat with the prison governor John Dooley and I asked him to let Paddy out early.
"He told me his instructions are clearly to release him on Saturday. So I told him - to let him out one minute after midnight and he agreed."
A Justice Department spokesman said they do not decide when prisoners are released.
He said: "Exact time of release for prisoners is a matter for the Irish Prison Service - not the Department of Justice. It is an operational matter."
The Irish Prison Service could not be contacted for comment.
Byeline: Niall Donald
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