MAN JAILED 15 YEARS AFTER GANG MURDER

AN IRISH hit man has been jailed for 15 years, convicted of gunning down a
Dutch gangster in a settling of old criminal scores.

Judges at Hertogenbosch Criminal Court told ex-barman, 31-year-old Derek
Aidan Dalton, a native of Dublin, with an address in Birmingham, yesterday
it had been proven that he carried out the shooting.

Presiding Judge Mr. A. Van Biesbergen, speaking in Dutch, told the father
of one: "We took into consideration the character and occupation of the
victim in this case but the fact remains that it was a most violent
pre-meditated killing; such violations of public order and crimes committed
in cold blood will not be tolerated."

Dalton was arrested shortly after the crime boss and drugs trafficker Noud
Waterschoot (45) was gunned down in a Chicago mob-like scene on May 26 in
the town of Valkenswaard.

The victim, a well known trafficker in ecstasy, cannabis and arms, with
reported links to some of Ireland's underworld figures, was stopped in his
car at traffic lights when a hit man pumped him with bullets at close
range, the trial had earlier heard.

After the shooting, Dutch police confirmed they were looking at a possible
link between the killing and a deal concerning Irish criminals that had
turned sour.

The Irishman and his Dutch accomplice, also sentenced to 15 years for
murder, were stopped in the getaway car. Both men had traces of shrapnel on
their hands and clothing identified by witnesses to the shooting was found
in the car.

Dalton denied any involvement in the liquidation claiming he was on a
sight-seeing visit when he was picked up and falsely accused.

As the verdict was announced family and friends of the liquidated crime
godfather clapped and cheered. Led away to start his sentence, Dalton
shouted: "Thanks for nothing" at the judges.

There was tight security for the court hearing and the Dublin man was
brought in a convoy of armoured cars guarded by special squad officers. A
Dutch Prison Service source has confirmed that he was being given maximum
protection and was moved to another prison after inmates, including members
of Hells Angels, who had close links with Waterschoot, threatened him.

Checked-by: Richard Lake