A DUBLIN man has been jailed for 15 years in the Netherlands after being convicted of shooting dead a Dutchman in "a settling of old criminal scores".
The killing of the drugs and arms dealer was compared to a "Chicago mob assassination" during the trial at 's Hertogenbosch Criminal Court of a former barman, Derek Aidan Dalton.
Judges told Dalton (31), from Dublin, with an address in Birmingham, it had been sufficiently proven that he and another accused man, a Dutch national, carried out "a cold-blooded violent crime, deserving the most severe sentence for premeditated murder". Sentencing Dalton yesterday, presiding judge Mr van Biesbergen told him: "We took into account the character and occupation of the victim, but nevertheless this was a shocking and violent killing.
"Such violation of public order and crimes committed in cold blood will not be tolerated here." Dalton, a father of one, was arrested shortly after crime boss and drug trafficker Noud Waterschoot was shot in the southern Netherlands town of Valkenswaard on May 26th.
The victim, a trafficker of ecstasy, cannabis and arms, and with reported links to underworld figures in Ireland, was stopped at traffic lights when a man approached the window and opened fire at close range, the trial had heard. The Irishman and a Dutch accomplice, Antonius van Bommel, also sentenced to 15 years for murder, were stopped in the getaway car. Clothing identified by witnesses of the shooting was in the car and both men had traces of shrapnel on their hands. Dalton denied any involvement in the killing, claiming he was on a sightseeing tour.
When the verdict was announced, family and friends of the murdered criminal clapped and cheered in the public gallery. Led away to start his sentence, Dalton, known as "Paddy" to convicted criminals and drug traffickers, the trial was told, clenched his fist at judges and shouted: "Thanks for nothing."
Security was tight for the hearing and Dalton was brought in a convoy of armoured cars to the courthouse. Following threats from inmates, including members of Hell's Angels, who had close links with the murdered man, he was moved to another prison recently and has a guard present whenever he comes in contact with other prisoners.