Patrick Eugene "Dutchy" Holland, the man named in court as having shot dead Veronica Guerin, plans to fly to Rome for a lie detector test immediately on his release from prison in an effort to prove he did not carry out the murder, it has emerged.
Holland, who is due for release from Portlaoise Prison on Saturday after serving nine years of a 12-year sentence for drugs offences, has arranged an appointment with a lie detector specialist in Rome through his legal representative Giovanni di Stefano.
Mr di Stefano claims to have acted as legal adviser to Saddam Hussein in the past.
RTÉ's editorial board on Tuesday turned down a request from the Late Late Show to allow them interview Holland on the programme.
Holland's nephew James Holland said his uncle is prepared to "do what it takes" to clear his name in relation to Veronica Guerin's murder in June 1996.
Patrick "Dutchy" Holland was convicted in November 1997 of possession of cannabis for the purposes of sale or supply within the State on a date unknown between October 1st, 1995, and October 6th, 1996.
He was sentenced to 20 years but this was reduced on appeal to 12 years. Holland (66) was a career criminal before he became involved with the John Gilligan drugs gang when he was released from an earlier prison sentence in 1994.
Garda Marion Cusack told the court at his trial that after he arrived at the Dún Laoghaire ferry port on April 9th, 1997, she arrested Holland on suspicion of having a firearm at the junction of the Naas Road and Boot Road on June 26th, 1996.
"I had formed the opinion that Patrick Holland was the man who shot dead Veronica Guerin," she said in evidence.
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