Local history with Monica McGill: Because of Veronica’s death government established CAB
Word spread fast on 26.6.1996. Most still know where they were when they first heard it. Folks in shops, in white-faced shock heard and said “Oh no, oh no”.
Small groups formed in our streets, then turned for home, “God rest her” on their lips.
“Phones rang. Some at bus-stops brought the news on board. “Is it true?” “Yes.” From car to stopped car the News was turned on, so more heard. Then, all went so, so quiet.
Brave, award-winning Veronica Guerin. Murdered directly because of her work as a foremost drugs crime investigative journalist.
She was killed, shot at the junction above at the Boot Road. She was almost 38.
The proximity of the brutal act sank in. Soon, people quietly walked, joined by others en route, to the place.
Some brought flowers picked hurriedly from their gardens or bought in shops on the way.
Approaching the place, they stopped a respectful distance away. The Guards were there. Her car was there, covered. But she was gone from us, from Ireland, from journalism.
Someone quietly gave out the Rosary. Others answered. Tears fell softly.
Tissues found in pockets were given to people who needed them.
All were there for Veronica and the truth she told, but all were too late.
Questions were whispered: Who would do such a thing, to a journalist? Who will bravely tell the truth now? Who’s next if anyone says anything – about anything – anywhere – to anyone?
What about justice? What has our Government and the Guards done to eradicate illegal drugs effectively?
World-wide media reported Veronica’s death. She and her family had been threatened.
She suffered various horrific physical injuries and abuse, directed or perpetrated by those she’d nick-named in her articles.
She’d dismissed garda protection because it hampered her investigations. She’d been doing what the Government hadn’t done. A vibrant key-stone of our democracy was gone.
Despite an immediate Garda investigation, it was years before those responsible were arrested, tried, found guilty and imprisoned.
However, directly because of Veronica’s death, the Government established the successful Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
It seizes ill-gotten gains from importing and distributing illegal drugs, ruining families.
Drugs “management” fled to other countries. Result: unprecedented, continuing international co-operation between the Garda and equivalent Authorities abroad.
TALENTED: Lyra McKee Photo by McKee Family/Variety
Lyra McKee
Lyra McKee was another professional, investigative journalist who was shot. She was observing a riot in Derry’s Creggan on 18 April 2019. She wasn’t yet 30-years-old.
Her work focused on The Troubles and their consequences. A talented reporter, her factual articles were published in newspapers and magazines; her fiction work in book form.
She gave a TED talk emphasising the importance of discussion to reach peace and understanding. (YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ymU-5Y3rkY ).
However, “on the day of the shooting the TV presenter Reggie Yates was in Derry with an MTV crew filming republicans opposed to Northern Ireland’s peace process.”
During his sermon, the priest officiating at Lyra’s funeral said “Many of us will be praying that Lyra’s death in its own way will not have been in vain and will contribute in some way to building peace here.
Since Thursday night, we have seen the coming together of so many people in various places, and the unifying of the community against violence.
I commend our political leaders for standing together in Creggan on Good Friday.
I am, however, left with a question: why in God’s name does it take the death of a 29-year-old woman with her whole life in front of her … “
Here, the congregation’s applause started, then a standing ovation.
Political leaders towards the front remained seated at first, then they also stood up and applauded.
The priest continued “Why in God’s name does it take the death of a 29-year-old woman to get to this point?”
Personal safety
Not all professional journalists and media workers are in danger, but some are.
News “consumers” don’t usually consider a reporter’s personal safety, nor of the supporting crew (if any), nor the self-control sometimes required of a newscaster conveying the news.
Accurate footage, untampered photographs, and reliable on-location reports can demonstrate how close they’ve been to danger.
Reliable, professional journalists focus on the report, not on themselves. They are not the news – the report is.
Time was, wearing or bearing official press identification meant that journalists were protected from intentional killing.
Not always so now. 2,658 journalists were killed world-wide between 1990 and 2020.
While some might consider a professional journalist’s disregard for their safety to be foolish, others appreciate the courage needed to get a balanced report “out there”, especially while specifically targeted with verbal abuses and assault.
“Citizen journalists”
So-called “citizen journalists” are not professional reporters. They don’t have to follow any professional or ethical industry standards.
As such, they can blithely confuse fact with unsupported opinion (usually to camera), without balance or civilised debate with those who may hold an opposing view.
However, reports from citizens – as eye witnesses to events – are useful to professional journalists who understand what real journalism requires.
National Union of Journalists
In Ireland and Britain, professional press and media workers are members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). It requires members to adhere to its ethical Code of Conduct.
It states: “The code of conduct has set out the main principles of UK and Irish journalism since 1936.
The code is part of the rules of the union.”
NUJ members produce “no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.”
In the context of danger, a journalist “resists threats or any other inducements to influence, distort, or suppress information.”
Broadly, the NUJ demands that its members’ reports are “honestly conveyed, accurate, and fair”. NUJ members “uphold media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed.”
They “differentiate between fact and fiction” and strive to “correct harmful inaccuracies”.
RTE
RTE’s Journalism and Content Guidelines are also available online .
It supports the NUJ Code of Conduct and defines fairness as striking a balance in reports between opposing views.
There is a requirement to have two reliable, agreeing sources before reporting information as fact.
Memorial
Veronica Guerin is a very sad part of our local history. Today, Veronica’s memorial in Clondalkin is at the junction of Boot Road and Old Naas Road, near where she was killed.
Locals gather there every year on the anniversary of her death to honour her memory and her work.