The family of Sunday Independent journalist, Veronica Guerin have called on the man who was convicted of her murder to acknowledge what he did 30 years ago was wrong.
Veronica Guerin, a journalist for the Sunday Independent, was shot dead on the Naas Road in Dublin as she was about to give evidence against, John Gilligan, leader of a multimillion euro drug operation. She was shot six times after stopping at traffic lights.
This happened after Guerin had been assaulted by Gilligan after she asked him about the source of his wealth when she previously visited his home. He also made threats to kill her and rape her son, Cathal, who was just six years old at the time of her murder.
Following her murder, unprecedented new legislation and extra garda resources were set up by The State, leading to the formation of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), as well as the witness protection programme, and the use of the Special Criminal Court for gangland criminals.
Subsequently, the Gilligan gang were dismantled, with key members including its leader, John Gilligan sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for various drug offences, as well as Brian Meehan and Patrick Eugene 'Dutchie' Holland', with Meehan convicted of Guerin's murder. Holland, who was suspected of carrying out the shooting of Guerin, died in a British prison cell in 2009 for a separate offence.
Charles Bowden, a member of Gilligan's drugs firm, became the first person in Ireland to enter into the witness protection programme, after turning supergrass and giving evidence against a number of key players in the drugs gang.
Guerin's murder, which happened on this day 30 years ago, shocked a nation, and a family to its core. It had first time that organised crime posed a threat to the State, and a safety to the public. Her brother, Jimmy Guerin, said stated that the least the Parole Board can do before they release Brian Meehan is to get him to acknowledge that his actions were wrong.
Today, Veronica Guerin will be remembered at a community walk to the place where she died.
In honour of Veronica Guerin, a fundraising event will also be held at St Francis Hospice at the Convention Centre in Dublin tonight. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and other senior Government and opposition figures are expected to attend.
Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly will also attend this event, as well as all previous commissioners since 1996, members of CAB, and of the judiciary and legal profession.
Mr Kelly had said that the seizure of assets and international partnerships have changed drastically since the events of 1996. He added that figures in organised crime groups can no longer operate in Ireland, and even if they move abroad, they can be brought back, from the UK and Europe, and many other parts of the world.
Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan said that the murder of Veronica Guerin is as shocking now as it was 30 years ago. But he did say that it led to a major change to the methods of policing in Ireland.
