A PROMINENT Dublin solicitor who has been under armed garda protection for over three years has been visiting a Spanish holiday home in the centre of a criminal stronghold.

John Hennessy, a former Fianna Fáil local election candidate, came to national attention when his Latvian client, Baiba Saulite, was shot dead outside her home in 2006.

After he received death threats from the man who allegedly organised Saulite's murder, Hennessy was placed under 24-hour armed protection at a cost of over €360,000 a year. Three teams of two undercover gardaí were assigned to protect him 24 hours a day and are still on duty even though Hassan Hassan, Saulite's estranged husband, who issued the threats against him, has left Ireland permanently.

The Sunday Tribune has learned that Hennessy's Spanish getaway is located in the heart of Puerto Banus, where an estimated 70 Irish criminals live, including members of the gang that shot Saulite.

When Hennessy is in Dublin he is accompanied wherever he goes but once his garda detail leaves him at the airport he is left to fend for himself and has no protection in Spain.

Friends of Hennessy say they are surprised the solicitor still requires armed protection while in Ireland yet is prepared to go alone on holidays to Puerto Banus, which is an international haven for criminals and drug dealers.

An Irish neighbour of Hennessy's in Puerto Banus said: "There is no doubt there was a threat to John's life a few years ago and the gardaí are obviously still in place for a reason. But it is odd that he has a home in Puerto Banus. He would be well-known to criminals out there and guys who organised Saulite's murder now live in Puerto Banus so you would think he could potentially get into difficulties. He obviously has no issues with it, but it has definitely raised eyebrows."

In response to questions from the Sunday Tribune, Hennessy said: "I have concerns for my personal safety everywhere."

However, he would not be drawn as to whether or not he felt happy to travel to the Spanish hub of criminal activity without his usual armed protection.

His holiday home is in the area where nine Irish people were arrested in connection with a major international clampdown on drugs distribution last month.

Among those caught in the police sting were gang leader Christy Kinahan and his associate, John Cunningham, notorious for the 1986 kidnap of heiress Jennifer Guinness.

Hennessy's life was initially threatened because criminal elements behind Saulite's murder were unhappy with his involvement in a family law case.

His house was firebombed and he was forced to wear bulletproof clothing after a contract was taken out on his life.

Before her death, Baiba Saulite had said she was concerned for her safety and for the safety of Hennessy.

Gardaí believe Baiba Saulite's estranged husband, Hassan Hassan, organised her murder from inside Mountjoy prison through a Limerick criminal gang. A Finglas drugs gang carried out the actual murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions recently directed that Hassan should not face charges in relation to the murder.