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Three decades after the killing of journalist Veronica Guerin, her sisters have broken a long public silence ahead of a memorial gala in Dublin that will also raise funds for St Francis Hospice. They spoke about the private grief they have carried since her murder and about a small annual ceremony that keeps her memory alive.
Grief kept mostly private
Marie-Therese Brannigan and Clare O’Brien say they have thought of their younger sister every day since she was killed, but rarely spoke about it in public. The pain, they explain, has been heavy and enduring — so much so that talking about the loss has been difficult until now.
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They describe moments when something as ordinary as a sound or an event makes them think, briefly, of what Veronica might have said or done. For the sisters, the decision to attend a gala at Dublin’s Convention Centre is a way to celebrate her life while supporting a cause they value.
The attack and what followed
On June 26, 1996, Veronica Guerin was shot while stopped at a red light on the Naas dual carriageway near Newlands Cross. A motorbike drew alongside her car; the pillion passenger smashed the window with the butt of a handgun and fired six times. Veronica died almost instantly.
She had received prior threats from crime figures, including the notorious gang leader John Gilligan. Gilligan was later acquitted of her murder, though members of his organisation were convicted for their roles. The motorbike’s rider, Brian Meehan, remains in prison.
Family reaction to sentences
The sisters say no court outcome will restore Veronica’s life. They have found little solace in convictions and sentencing. “Veronica won’t have a life,” Clare says. “We don’t have our sister.”
Both women have said they would have preferred harsher penalties for those responsible, arguing that killing someone should carry a far heavier price. Even so, grief has dominated their response more than legal retribution.
Remembering Veronica
When the sisters talk about Veronica away from the headlines, a different picture emerges. She is recalled as lively and warm, someone who drew people in and loved her family fiercely. She relished music and laughter, they say, and “was the life and soul” at gatherings.
Her six-year-old son at the time of her death, Cathal, now lives in Dubai and has a daughter of his own. Marie-Therese says Veronica would have delightfully welcomed a granddaughter; family milestones remain bittersweet reminders of the years she missed.
Marie-Therese also praised Cate Blanchett’s portrayal of Veronica in the film about her life. She watched it once and felt the performance captured her sister’s energy.
Commemoration and small ceremonies
Every year on June 26, the family gathers for a short ceremony at a plaque on the Naas Road marking the spot where Veronica was killed. The sisters visit infrequently, finding the place almost too painful. Yet they return each year to remember and to mark her impact on public life.
This year’s gala combines tribute and fundraising for St Francis Hospice. For Marie-Therese and Clare, the event is both personal and public: a chance to honour Veronica’s work exposing organised crime and to support a charity they admire.
