SHOW RAGE

Veronica Guerin’s brother mounts fresh bid to can John Gilligan TV series in ‘most upsetting’ Virgin Media doc battle

• Published: 11:35, 7 Sep 2023
• Updated: 17:46, 7 Sep 2023

TRAGIC Veronica Guerin’s brother has mounted a fresh bid for all episodes of a new John Gilligan documentary to be canned.

Murdered journalist Veronica’s sibling Jimmy has now written to politicians seeking support ahead of further Virgin Media interviews with pint-sized thug Gilligan being broadcast.

And a CAB officer who investigated John Gilligan blasted the new TV series on the gangster, raging: “I find it unbelievable someone like this would be given air time.”

Devastated Jimmy said the explosive new programmes – part of a three-part series – have been “most upsetting” to the grieving Guerins, causing “unnecessary pain”.

Evil Gilligan, 71, admitted on Confessions of a Crime Boss that the murder of hero journalist Guerin “was the beginning of the end” for a him after dedicating decades to a life of crime.

Campaigning reporter Veronica was gunned down by a hitman as she sat in her car on the Naas Road outside Dublin on June 26, 1996.

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Although the Dublin mob boss escaped a murder rap for the notorious killing, members of his gang were found to be responsible for her death.

And Jimmy Guerin fumed that “providing recognition for this series is entirely inappropriate”.

He called for politicians to “publicly support” calls from Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton for Virgin Media to reconsider showing the series, due to continue on Monday night.

Guerin blasted how “amoral individual” Gilligan had been given a platform to “peddle his lies and tarnish Veronica’s reputation and legacy”.

He added: “On top of that it is hurtful to the thousands of families whose lives have been destroyed by drugs to give the leader of the gang responsible for the largest importation of drugs into this country a platform where he can laugh and dismiss the hurt he has caused these people.”

Independent Councillor Jimmy last week said he was asked to take part in the documentary about the hated gangster and declined.

He also told the Irish Sun: “It is more than disappointing that a national television broadcaster, producers, publishers and journalists, chose to give airtime and to publish a book with the direct testimony of the individual once charged with the murder of their fellow journalist, Veronica.

“I’ve no intention of watching it. I don’t want to give any legitimacy to that load of rubbish.”

Speaking on Newstalk yesterday, Jimmy fumed that the documentary had failed to challenge Gilligan on what he said in the first episode, fuming: “They’re relying on other people then to pick them apart.”

He added: “We never thought we would have to defend her.”

Meanwhile, a former Criminal Assets Bureau detective who probed Gilligan’s criminal empire has also blasted Virgin Media’s decision to air the show.

The retired officer, who we can’t name by law, said the thug will never change.

The ex-CAB officer told us: “He is nothing more than a convicted thief, drug trafficker, illegal arms importer and money launderer.

“He has left no legacy in Ireland — he has only left communities across Ireland that are awash with drugs, broken families and death.

“Gilligan was the leader of one of the first truly organised crime gangs in Ireland which operated like a terrorist cell whose gang members plotted, colluded and executed the assassination of Veronica. He has served time but has not changed.”

‘CREATED MISERY’

Previously weighing in on the documentary, Minister McEntee said she also had no intention of watching the show.

Speaking on Monday the Meath TD said: “This is a man that has created misery for so many people and so many communities.

“He’s someone who has been convicted of very serious offences and I for one certainly won’t be watching it.

“I know there’s a lot of people, families and communities that are very upset by the fact that this documentary is on this evening.”

And she added: “I think the producers maybe need to think about what they’re trying to achieve.

“This is a person who has been convicted of very serious drug-trafficking crimes and who has inflicted untold misery on people – and as I said, I certainly won’t be watching it and I know many people who won’t be either.”

The team behind the new doc have rejected claims that it glorifies Gilligan.

Peninsula Television chief executive David Harvey rejected “completely” the possibility, and said Gilligan hadn’t been paid “a penny” to take part.

He told RTE Radio One’s This Week: “I think for such a significant, notorious figure to go on the record on national media at any point would be something that most organisations could not refuse the opportunity to show.”

Feared Gilligan is described on the new show as a “dangerous psychopath”.

And he admitted that he’s likely to go to hell for his long list of evil deeds, conceding: “If there is one, yeah.

The thug said he’s not sorry for any of the crimes he’s carried out – and still sleeps like a baby.

He said: “I’m sorry I went into crime but I’m not really sorry for the things I done. I could say I’m sorry, I could lie and say I’m sorry…it doesn’t stop me sleeping.”

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