1. Veronica Guerin Turley was an Irish investigative journalist focusing on organised crime in Ireland, who was murdered in a contract killing believed to have been ordered by a South Dublin-based drug cartel.
27 Facts About Veronica Guerin
1. 2.
Veronica Guerin became a reporter in 1990, writing for the Sunday Business Post and Sunday Tribune.
3.
In 1996, after pressing charges for assault against major organised crime figure John Gilligan, Guerin was ambushed and fatally shot in her vehicle while waiting at a traffic light.
4.
The daughter of Christopher and Bernadette, Veronica Guerin was nicknamed "Ronnie".
5.
Veronica Guerin and her four siblings were born and brought up in Artane, Dublin, and attended St Mary's secondary school in Killester where she excelled in athletics.
6.
Veronica Guerin played for both the Ireland women's national basketball team and Republic of Ireland women's national football team, representing the latter in a match against England at Dalymount Park in May 1981.
7.
Veronica Guerin was a supporter of Manchester United football team; her prized possession was a photo of her and Eric Cantona taken on a visit to Old Trafford.
8.
Veronica Guerin served as Charles Haughey's personal assistant, and became a family friend, taking holidays with his children.
9.
Veronica Guerin reported on Irish Republican Army activities in Ireland.
10.
Veronica Guerin received the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists in December 1995.
11.
On 26 June 1996, while driving her red Opel Calibra, Veronica Guerin stopped at a red traffic light on the Naas Dual Carriageway near Newlands Cross, on the outskirts of Dublin, unaware she was being followed.
12.
Veronica Guerin was then shot six times, fatally, by one of two men sitting on a motorcycle.
13.
About an hour after Veronica Guerin was murdered, a meeting took place in Moore Street, Dublin, between Bowden, Meehan, and Mitchell.
14.
At the time of her murder, Traynor was seeking a High Court order against Veronica Guerin to prevent her from publishing a book about his involvement in organised crime.
15.
Veronica Guerin was killed two days before she was due to speak at a Freedom Forum conference in London.
16.
Veronica Guerin's murder caused outrage, and Taoiseach John Bruton called it "an attack on democracy".
17.
The investigation into Veronica Guerin's death resulted in over 150 other arrests and convictions, as well as seizures of drugs and arms.
18.
Meehan was convicted of murdering Veronica Guerin, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
19.
Veronica Guerin is the only individual serving a life sentence for his role in the murder.
20.
John Gilligan left Ireland the day before Veronica Guerin was murdered, on a flight to Amsterdam.
21.
Veronica Guerin was arrested 12 months later in the United Kingdom trying to board a flight for Amsterdam after a routine search of his baggage revealed $500,000 in cash.
22.
Veronica Guerin accused Traynor of having ordered Guerin's murder without his permission.
23.
Veronica Guerin stood as light, and wrote of life in Ireland today, and told the truth.
24.
Veronica Guerin was not a judge, nor was she a juror, but she paid the ultimate price with the sacrifice of her life.
25.
In 2000, Veronica Guerin was named as one of the International Press Institute's 50 World Press Freedom Heroes of the past 50 years.
26.
Two films have been based on her story: When the Sky Falls, starring Joan Allen as Sinead Hamilton and Veronica Guerin, starring Cate Blanchett.
27.
Veronica Guerin's murder was a main inspiration and plot point of progressive metal band Savatage's 1997 concept album The Wake of Magellan.