Journalist. She was a journalist for Ireland's best selling newspaper, the "Sunday Independent". She investigated the murderers and drug dealers of Dublin's criminal underworld. She identified the criminals in her prize-winning stories by nicknames because of Ireland's libel laws; nevertheless, she received many death threats and was attacked several times. In October 1994, gunmen shot out the windows of her house. In January 1995, she was shot in the thigh by an unidentified assailant. In September 1995 she was brutally beaten by John Gilligan, a convicted criminal whom she was trying to interview. According to Guerin, Gilligan called her the next day and told her, "I am going to kill you if you write a word about me." Following this incident, she was provided with 24 hour police protection, which she soon dismissed, claiming it "cramped her style." She was killed the next year when a man on a motorcycle fired six shots at close range as she sat in her car at a stop light. Her murder was the first of a journalist in the Irish Republic. Her death led to Ireland's largest criminal investigation, resulting in 150 arrests. In November 1998 Paul "Hippo" Ward, a Dublin drug dealer, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. Brian Meehan was accused of driving the motorcycle and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 1999. John Gilligan was also charged with her murder in 1998 and spent several years fighting extradition from England. He was not convicted.
Journalist. She was a journalist for Ireland's best selling newspaper, the "Sunday Independent". She investigated the murderers and drug dealers of Dublin's criminal underworld. She identified the criminals in her prize-winning stories by nicknames because of Ireland's libel laws; nevertheless, she received many death threats and was attacked several times. In October 1994, gunmen shot out the windows of her house. In January 1995, she was shot in the thigh by an unidentified assailant. In September 1995 she was brutally beaten by John Gilligan, a convicted criminal whom she was trying to interview. According to Guerin, Gilligan called her the next day and told her, "I am going to kill you if you write a word about me." Following this incident, she was provided with 24 hour police protection, which she soon dismissed, claiming it "cramped her style." She was killed the next year when a man on a motorcycle fired six shots at close range as she sat in her car at a stop light. Her murder was the first of a journalist in the Irish Republic. Her death led to Ireland's largest criminal investigation, resulting in 150 arrests. In November 1998 Paul "Hippo" Ward, a Dublin drug dealer, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. Brian Meehan was accused of driving the motorcycle and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 1999. John Gilligan was also charged with her murder in 1998 and spent several years fighting extradition from England. He was not convicted.
Bio by: Jennifer M.
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