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TWENTY YEARS AGO today, celebrated crime journalist Veronica Guerin was shot dead in her car on the outskirts of Dublin, making her one of the most high-profile victims of the gangland violence she worked to expose.
A tribute mass has taken place this morning at the Church of Saint Nicholas of Myra in Kinsealy in Fingal, with Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin paying tribute to the slain reporter.
“We remember her not as a news story of the past,” he said, “but as an example for today.”
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He started the homily by drawing a comparison between Guerin and Michael Francis, a man who served as Catholic Archbishop of Monrovia in Liberia between 1981 and 2011 – during which time the west African nation came under the control of despot president Charles Taylor.
He was a quiet and tranquil man, but a man of great courage whom I was proud to know. I had asked him at one stage why Charles Taylor had not killed him. His reply was striking.
He said: ‘It may seem strange, but I feel that he is afraid of me. Without boasting about myself. I feel there is something about integrity which frightens.’ Integrity unnerves.
“I thought of Archbishop Francis when I was asked to celebrate this Mass to remember and honour Veronica Guerin,” said Martin.
Twenty years after her death she remains someone who showed integrity and courage.
Much of Guerin’s journalism career saw her focus on Dublin’s drug underworld, something that has come back into focus with the seven murders connected to the Hutch-Kinahan feud that have taken place since last September.
Referencing this in his homily, the Archbishop said: “We have uncompromisingly to expose and condemn the horrible violence of those who are involved in the traffic of death and disregard for life that is the drugs trade.
We have to support the work of the gardaí and law enforcement in fighting this traffic of death. Those who are involved in this disgusting and despicable industry will still attempt to silence anyone who has the courage to call evil evil. We must not let them overcome.
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And willams has made a killing ever since (with his self appointed status as the “voice” on Irish crime) crime reporters in this country do nothing but stir up trouble and make up lies but mostly their in business to tow the line of our “under paid under staffed guards” All bull
That’s what happens when you play with fire. It’s the duty of the state to control crime and to make sure the police have sufficient resources to do the job. We can do without maverick ‘s.
20 years later, one million hours of overtime, millions upon millions spent protecting “witnesses” (one in particular who many believe was the actual shooter) unsafe convictions, cases thrown out of court because of false “admissions” the whole case was a new low not just for society but for the establishment in particular the guards
No longer the Island of Saints and Scholars!! Truly a shocking moment!! I never ever thought that something like that could happen in Ireland. Killing a defenceless woman in broad daylight!! Money and Power seem to more valuable than a human life. That is so tragic!!!
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