Patrick Holland was part of an elaborate plot to undermine the Garda investigation into the murder of the journalist Veronica Guerin. At a meeting in Amsterdam in February the leaders of the gang hatched a plan to use Holland and the Irish tabloid newspaper and broadcasting media as a means of subverting the investigation.
They first considered murdering a Garda officer to divert resources from the Guerin murder investigation, the largest ever mounted in the State. They rejected this idea in favour of trying to use the media.
The plan began with the purchase of £25,000 worth of secret recording equipment in London. Holland then gave an interview to a journalist, denying the Guerin murder, which was sold to newspapers.
The interview and photograph were given extensive coverage on March 6th in a number of newspapers (not The Irish Times).
Holland also gave an interview to RTE, for the Pat Kenny radio show, but it was not broadcast.
On April 9th Holland travelled to Dublin knowing he would be arrested. However, it appears his arrest as his car embarked from the However, he did not expect to be caught as soon as he arrived. at the Holyhead ferry took him by surprise. At the ferryport gardai found a radio receiver in the back of the car.
He was searched at Lucan Garda station, and two very sensitive microphones were found in the heels of his shoes. Another man was arrested with an electronic listening device in a house in Lucan.
Gardai subsequently discovered that the intention was to bug his interviews with gardai in the hope that some officers would make untoward or embarrassing remarks about him. Selected recordings would then be offered to the Pat Kenny radio show and newspapers.
The gang hoped this would undermine the case against them and embarrass the gardai into running down the investigation.