For most of his adult life, Paul Derry has been exploiting other career criminals as a paid police informant.
Only he had immunity when he sold drugs and ran guns.
He got the biggest pass of his life in 2000, when he was spared charges for his key role in a Hells Angels contract killing in Halifax. He did what he did best and went to work for the police, and wore a wire when he visited one of the accused in jail.
Derry’s testimony put away three men, including the Hells Angel who ordered the hit on a rumour that the target had an affair with a Hells Angels mistress. They shot Sean Simmons in the head, and while Steven Gareau didn’t squeeze the trigger, the Ottawa man was branded in court as the man who tracked down the target and brought the killers with him.
Gareau was condemned to life in prison but earlier this year he won a new trial after filing a handwritten appeal from his prison cell. In February, he was convicted again on the strength of star witness Derry. Gareau, 57, insists he thought he was tracking down Simmons for a drug deal, not a murder.
At the end of the trial in February, Gareau said he was disappointed the jury didn’t see past Derry’s obsession for fame and money. Derry, 48, who now lives at an undisclosed location under a new identity, spoke with Citizen reporter Gary Dimmock.
Q: You drove the shooter to the killing. You drove the getaway car, buried the murder weapon and disposed of the killer’s clothes. Seems you did more than Stevie (Gareau). So why aren’t you in jail?
A: It’s all in the glasses you look through. Bottom line is, I made a deal and he did not.
Q: I understand you need a crook to catch a crook.
A: It’s the role I played. I can’t play criminal without breaking the law, or cops would do my job.
Q: What’s the worst thing you’ve done as a police informant?
A: Considered it a game and allowed Sean (Simmons) to die.
Bottom line is, I made a deal and he did not.
Q: Do you ever lose sleep knowing you made a career out of exploiting friendships? Any pride in being a rat?
A: I do not lose sleep over putting violent criminals in jail. I do lose sleep over the death of Sean Simmons and other victims I have encountered. I am proud to know that I helped take bad guys off the streets. I was not always proud to be me … I truly fought violent crime and have only ratted once in my life to avoid a charge and that was the Simmons murder.
Q: I’m told there’s a Hells Angels contract on your head. Are you afraid?
A: To say I am not afraid would be a lie. It’s a dangerous criminal organization. However, God help the one who comes to execute the contract. I am turning 49. I have fear of being shot down in front of my children, but not of death.
Q: You were the star witness at Steve Gareau’s (murder trial earlier this year). He was condemned to prison for life. Did he get a fair trial?
A: It is my belief that he did not get a competent defence.
Q: As far as intelligence goes, are the cops smarter than the crooks?
A: Cops are smarter than crooks but have to follow rules and crooks don’t.
Q: Have you ever conned the cops?
A: I have manipulated most everyone in my life, excluding my children. I think it is an unconscious trait of a good rat.
Q: What’s the best meal the cops ever bought you?
A: French onion soup with the (RCMP) handler who labelled me treacherous. It was at an Irving Big Stop in Moncton.
