Ireland 9 April 2006: Sunday Mirror, Eire Edition p5: Paddy Holland swapped a cell in Ireland's toughest jail yesterday for a room in the country's most luxurious hotel... but still he couldn't sleep.
It may boast five-stars, a swanky spa and pool and Dublin's only Michelin-starred restaurant, but Holland didn't take to the Merrion Hotel opposite Bertie Ahern's office.
In an exclusive interview, 'Dutchy' revealed: "It was a real shock coming out of prison and then coming here.
"It's all very nice, but I didn't get any sleep, well about an hour-and-a-half, but that's all.
"I was pacing up and down - I still thought I was in my cell.
But I'm delighted to be out - of course I am."
Holland spoke as he walked through Dublin Airport to get out of Ireland - the country he claims betrayed him and locked him up for nearly 10 years for a crime he claims he did not commit.
Accompanied by his lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano, Holland, 66, boarded Aer Lingus flight EI406 on a one-way e288 ticket to Rome.
But he said he will only come back to Ireland to appear at three cases he has scheduled in the Four Courts.
Those appeals are part of a legal bid to clear his name on the drug-dealing charges that saw him given a 20-year jail sentence, later reduced to 12.
While in Rome, devout Catholic Holland intends to be at Mass this morning.
And he vowed to say a prayer for murdered Veronica Guerin and her family.
He was named during his drugs trial in 1987 as the man who pulled the trigger that killed the campaigning journalist.
Dutchy was never charged with the killing and has always denied any part of it.
He added: "Without a doubt I will say a prayer for her."
He has never missed Mass when he was locked up in Portlaoise Prison and does not intend to now.
He said last night: "I will be at Mass on Sunday. I'm going into the centre of Rome and I will go to Mass.
"I say prayers for a lot of people, my family and people that are gone as well.
"I cover them all and I always mention herself and her family. I always say it for the family, the person and the family.
"Her murder was terrible and there was no need for it."
Dutchy was released from prison at 12.01am on Saturday with a broad smile on his face as he shook hands with his lawyer.
Then, as gardai kept waiting cameramen back, he was bundled into a van and was whisked away to the EUR250-a-night Merrion by his legal team.
As it sped towards central Dublin, the van passed the spot on the Nass dual carriageway where Veronica was gunned down on June 26, 1996 when a motorcyclist and pillion passenger pulled up alongside her sports car. The passenger jumped off the bike and shot her dead.
The two men then sped off from the scene of the murder that shocked the entire nation.
Holland added: "I'm in a bit of shock really. It's strange being out like, you know and it was hectic today.
"I didn't get much sleep in the hotel. Believe it or not I thought I was still walking up and down my cell I forgot that I was out. It's great being out like, but this is just a start. I don't drink and I didn't even have a glass of champagne. Oh, no I did not.
"All I had was a glass of Coke and a cup of tea. I didn't even have a meal in there.
"This morning we had a bit of a meal there but nothing last night because I wasn't hungry."
His 2.50pm flight left 10 minutes late but landed at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport 10 minutes early.
After spending a few days in Rome where his lawyer is based, Holland plans to move to London, where he still has friends and family.
He fled to the British capital after he was revealed as a suspect in Veronica's murder.
But he returned to Ireland and was arrested as he drove off the Dun Laoghaire car ferry from Holyhead.
He said: "I'm over in Rome for a couple of days and then over to London.
"I want to find a place there. Then I have to be back in Dublin because I've three cases coming up.
"It feels strange, very strange. I am homeless at the moment, you see?
"I am floating around, because Portlaoise was home, I was so used to it for so long. You get institutionalised."
And of Rome he said: "Where we're going is sunshine, it's like a summer back home, it's lovely.
"I've never been to Rome before and I'm going to be brought out on a bit of tour."
He intends to make sure part of that tour includes the Vatican.
Holland added: "There are certain parts you can go into.
"I'm going to see the sights. There's so much you can see over here, the Coliseum and everything.
"You hear about them and now I'll have a look at them. It's a good place to head off to.
"To come out of the blue and see this it's great like you know."
And although Holland said he has "no plans to see the Pope", he joked he might see "The Monk", a reference to Dublin former criminal Gerry Hutch.
Holland added he "might send a postcard" to alleged crime boss and former associate John Gilligan from Rome.
RTE had lined up a Late Late Show appearance with Dutchy - but it was pulled at the last minute.
Station chiefs were stunned when the plan met with a hail of protest from TDs and Veronica's family.
Before the planned interview was scrapped, her brother Jimmy asked: "Will Pat Kenny shake hands with the man I blame for my sister's death?
"I just don't think Pat Kenny and the Late Late Show are the right place for a man like this to be interviewed."
He added yesterday: "It's a sad day to see anybody closely linked to Veronica's murder walking free."
Byeline: by Lisa O'Connor and Niall Donald
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