INSUFFICIENT evidence against notorious criminal John Traynor, combined with the fact that he acted as an unofficial garda informer, will ensure that he will not be extradited to Ireland in relation to the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

Traynor is in custody in the Netherlands, having been arrested last week as part of a joint operation by the Dutch and British police against organised crime in Europe.

After arresting the 62-year-old former member of the John Gilligan drugs gang, the Dutch police realised Traynor was unlawfully at large from an English prison.

Traynor has been sought in the UK for the past 18 years. He absconded from prison one year into a seven-year sentence after he was caught handling stolen bearer bonds in London. He is now awaiting extradition to the UK. A prisoner at Highpoint Prison, Suffolk, he was given temporary release, came back to Ireland and never went back.

Traynor was Veronica Guerin's underworld contact who, prior to her murder, was seeking a High Court order to prevent her writing about his involvement in organised crime. He fled Ireland after she was shot dead in 1996 and moved between Spain and the Netherlands.

"I would certainly like to see Traynor brought back to Ireland to answer questions about his involvement in my sister's murder," Jimmy Guerin told the Sunday Tribune. "I think evidence linking him to it must be there. He was a major player in that gang. I can see no reason why the authorities cannot act on this and extradite him."

Traynor was arrested with Brian Meehan in 1997 in Amsterdam. Meehan is serving a life sentence for the murder. Traynor was released without charge. Gardaí believe he tipped off the gang responsible for Guerin's murder.

"We know he was involved in her murder. But the evidence to prove it in a court of law isn't there," said a source.