Sir, - I refer to the tragic death of my sister Veronica Guerin, and the whole area of crime reporting in Ireland. I have waited a month to allow a proper period of mourning, before expressing the following opinions in public.
Anyone who knew Veronica knows that she was an extremely courageous person who was 100 per cent committed to her work and her paper, and who showed this commitment in everything she did. However this courage and commitment resulted in the death of a 37 year old mother who during six short years became recognised as being one of the best journalists in Ireland, not only in crime but in the many stories she covered.
Lessons must be learned by publishers, and hopefully this will ensure that no journalist will ever again lose his/her life while pursuing a story. I feel that no story waiting to be told is worth this price.
Proprietors and editors must examine the dangers to which they are exposing staff members. It is ultimately their responsibility to ensure the safety of the people in their employ.
Veronica was in great danger for close on two years, and I believe that steps could have been taken to prevent her death. For instance, if a team, as opposed to an individual, was assigned to such dangerous work then you would have to kill an entire team to kill a story, and I don't believe that even the amoral people who gunned down Veronica would be capable of this task.
Insistence that security personnel travel with staff would also help, and should be examined. But if all this fails, and you have a reporter who insists on working alone, then in future an editor must say NO. It is not worth the risk, as no story is worth the life as a reporter. It is editors who decide what appears in papers, and would appeal that in future they consider not just circulation, but the much wider implications. when running stories. - Yours. etc.,
Portmarnock,
Co Dublin.