Fallon's Town Talk: Veronica Guerin’s murder stopped a nation in its tracks
This is the last image taken of journalist Veronica Guerin. She is pictured here with criminal John Traynor. She and photographer Brian Farrell had set up the meeting in order to capture him on camera. Photo courtesy of Brian Farrell
It’s difficult to describe the impact of investigative crime journalist Veronica Guerin’s murder on Irish society to anyone who wasn’t alive at the time. Last Friday marked the 30th anniversary of the assassination of the ‘Sunday Independent’ reporter by members of the Gilligan crime gang.
On Sunday morning I listened to a piece by renowned photographer Brian Farrell on ‘Sunday Miscellany’ on RTÉ Radio 1, entitled ‘Photographing Veronica’. Brian has been based in this part of the world for many years, but in 1996 he was photographic editor of the ‘Sunday Independent’.
Brian told a fascinating, poignant story which is well worth a listen to on the RTÉ website. He took two enduring images of the journalist. One was taken just 10 days before her death and turned out to be the last photograph of Veronica. It came about after Brian and Veronica set up a meeting with criminal John Traynor to get him on camera. The other photograph was a portrait picture for the masthead of the paper; it captured her so well that Veronica’s mother asked Brian for the image to use on the slain journalist’s headstone.
For me, one of the most moving parts of the story was when Brian spoke of driving away from the scene of the Traynor scoop. No doubt his adrenaline was pumping as he drove past Newlands Cross on the Naas Dual Carriageway. Just 10 days later, the lights were red rather than green and Veronica was gunned down at the exact same spot.
For many Irish people of a certain age, the murder of Veronica Guerin is their JFK moment: they can remember exactly where they were when they heard of her death. It was one of those rare events which stopped the nation in its tracks. In 1996, the Roscommon Herald and the Roscommon Champion came out on Wednesday. It was normal to pop into the Champion office at some stage on Wednesday to look over that week’s edition.
When I walked into the office my colleagues, which would have included the late Angela Doyle, asked if I’d heard the news. I hadn’t a clue what they were talking about. They told me Veronica Guerin had been shot dead. It took me a few seconds to compute as I initially got her confused with Orla Guerin, then, as now, a famed international correspondent for the BBC.
Quickly it dawned on me that it was Veronica Guerin, who had forged a reputation for fearlessly exposing the activities of Dublin’s criminal gangs. It was unbelievable that a young mother had been murdered for working as a journalist. Criminal gangs tended to shoot each other and drew the line at attacking journalists.
It was a pre-social media world. Veronica was gunned down just before lunchtime but it wasn’t until the drivetime radio shows and, particularly, the 6 o’clock television news that the details of the atrocity became clear.
The nation came together in a show of outrage, defiance and unity. The state gave the Gardai greater support in combating criminal gangs and this ultimately led to the dismantling of the Gilligan outfit. Inevitably, other vicious gangs sprung up to their place, and the battle between the Gardai and the criminals remains relentless. It is nonetheless important to remember a time when one woman stood up to those thugs and paid the ultimate price for her bravery.
Last week marked a milestone in the history not just of Creggs NS and Tarmon NS, but in primary school education locally. Brothers Ger and Kieran Dowd stepped down as principals of Creggs and Tarmon respectively after distinguished tenures at the helm.
I’ve been debating if I should mention Ger and Kieran’s retirements as neither man would want any praise or publicity, but on this occasion I think the public interest wins out. Maybe the best summation of the brothers’ contribution to education is that each of them built successful, happy schools which reflected their personalities.
When I decided to switch careers and become a primary school teacher, both Ger and Kieran were generous with their time, advice and acts of kindness. They did the same for countless others over the years, be they students or fellow teachers. I always enjoyed their company and the only difference of opinion I can remember having with either of them was when Kieran and I disagreed about how we regarded Jurgen Klopp.
Best wishes to Ger and Kieran in the next chapter which is sure to be active, particularly when it comes to their beloved Creggs RFC.
