The State has "missed opportunities" to clamp down on gangland crime over the last two decades, according to Veronica Guerin's brother.
Tomorrow (June 26th) marks 25 years since the journalist - known for her work covering the activities of drug gangs and organised crime - was murdered in Dublin.
Her murder shocked Ireland, and the killing was a key factor in driving the State to set up the Criminal Assets Bureau to target criminals.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Veronica's brother Jimmy Guerin was asked about his sister's legacy.
He observed: “Her real legacy is her son, who is a fine young man at this stage. But I think the Criminal Assets Bureau will always be linked with Veronica.
“However, the sad part is sometimes we go to seize watches, cars and money from these criminals - but they’ve so much money they can go out and replace them.
"The important thing is to try to gather the evidence and convict the drug dealers so they’ll serve time - that’s one thing they can’t buy back with money."
Jimmy said "everything that can be done" was done in the immediate aftermath of Veronica's death to put pressure on Ireland's criminal underworld.
However, he suggested the State "eased off the pressure" on criminals as time passed.
He observed: “The problems with drugs today are far worse than they were in 1996.
"There’s still a lot of criminal activity and gangland killings… I don’t think things have changed for the better. That’s one of the sad things.”
Conviction
Brian Meehan from Crumlin in Dublin is serving a life sentence following his conviction in July 1999 for the murder of the journalist in 1996.
The Special Criminal Court found he was the driver of a motorbike carrying the gunman who killed her.
The 55-year-old is now seeking to be transferred from Wheatfield Prison to Shelton Abbey Open Jail, which would potentially entitle him to day release.
Jimmy said the Guerin family hopes that does not happen.
He said: “My understanding is that a temporary release to be granted to someone convicted of murder is something only given at the gift of the Minister of Justice for the day.
“I would be hopeful no minister would see fit to give temporary release to Brian Meehan, in really what’s such a short period of time after her death.
“We had Veronica taken from us at a very young age of 36 - I think it would be most inappropriate and difficult for all of us as a family to see the likes of Meehan released.”
