Evil Empire: The Irish Mob and the Assassination of Journalist Veronica Guerin

by Paul Williams

On June 26, 1996, an international outcry was heard over the assassination of Irish journalist Veronica Guerin, gunned down by Ireland's most vicious gang. It was the first European case of what the police called "narco-terrorism," where drug syndicates use terror tactics against individuals and states to protect their interests. The hit would change European police tactics forever and make the law enforcement community realize that this problem was no longer confined to the third world.
Ruthless godfather John Gilligan controlled a colossal drug empire and a mob of Dublin gangland's most dangerous criminals. Violence and the threat of murder kept terrified witnesses silent and other gangsters in fear. Gilligan thought himself above the law---and never managed to figure out that there was a line between what gangsters can and cannot do.
Evil Empire tells the chilling inside story of Gilligan's rise to power, his savage gang, and the truth about the terrifying murder that shocked the world. Also shown is the behind-the-scenes drama of the dedicated police squad that waged an unprecedented four-year war to smash "Factory" John's Evil Empire.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

384 pages, Hardcover

First published December 11, 2003

About the author

Paul Williams is an Irish crime journalist, and author of crime exposes depicting the rise and fall of some of Ireland's most notorious and brutal gangs and criminal figures.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting true story of an Irish journalist who was murdered when she threatened a prominate Irish drug lord. While there was a movie made based on her life I found this book to be very compelling. It talks not only about the major players involved but also how complicated and difficult it is to bring down an organization that is so dangerous.

[Taan]

good

[Susan O · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent book... paul williams writes in a way that pulls you into the underworld you can smell the cordite from the gun and feel the fear from ordinary citizens