Ed Moloney
Encyclopedia
Ed Moloney is an Irish
journalist and author best known for his coverage of the Troubles
in Northern Ireland
and particularly the activities of the Provisional IRA. Ed worked for the Hibernia magazine and Magill
before going on to serve as Northern Ireland editor for The Irish Times
and subsequently for the Sunday Tribune
. He is currently living and working in New York
. His first book, Paisley, was a biography of Unionist
leader Ian Paisley
, co-authored by Andy Pollak and published in 1986. In 2002, he published a best selling history of the Provisional IRA, A Secret History of the IRA
. A second edition of the book was published for Irish and UK audiences in July 2007. This was followed, in 2008, by a new edition of Paisley: From Demagogue to Democrat?, of which Moloney is the single author.
In 1999, Moloney was voted Irish Journalist of the Year.
In March 2010, the book Voices from the Grave was published, which featured interviews with Brendan Hughes
and David Ervine
, complied by researchers for Boston College. Moloney based the book on the interviews given by Hughes and Ervine. Excerpts from the book published by The Sunday Times
show Hughes discussing his role and the alleged role of Gerry Adams
in the IRA. Events recorded in the book include both Adams's and Hughes's own actions in regards to the disappearance of Jean McConville
and others, Bloody Friday
, and the sourcing of IRA weapons, among other details of Hughes' IRA career. In October 2010, the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ aired an 83-minute documentary co-produced by Moloney based on Voices from the Grave. In February 2011, Voices From the Grave won the best television documentary prize at the annual Irish Film and Television Awards
(IFTAs). He also blogs at thebrokenelbow.com
's death to be published as assurance should anything untoward happen to him. The account was published when, as part of the Stevens Enquiry Stobie was arrested and charged with Finucane's murder.
Moloney refused to comply with a court order that he should hand over notes he had made during the interviews to the police. He faced jail or heavy fines but, in October 1999, Lord Chief Justice
Sir Robert Carswell ruled at the High Court in Belfast that the judge had been misguided to order Moloney to give up his notes to the police.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
journalist and author best known for his coverage of the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and particularly the activities of the Provisional IRA. Ed worked for the Hibernia magazine and Magill
Magill
Magill was an Irish politics and current affairs magazine founded by Vincent Browne and others in 1977. Magill was widely perceived as groundbreaking, specialising in in-depth investigative articles and colourful reportage by journalists such as Eamonn McCann and Gene Kerrigan...
before going on to serve as Northern Ireland editor for The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
and subsequently for the Sunday Tribune
Sunday Tribune
The Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
. He is currently living and working in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. His first book, Paisley, was a biography of Unionist
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
leader Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
, co-authored by Andy Pollak and published in 1986. In 2002, he published a best selling history of the Provisional IRA, A Secret History of the IRA
A Secret History of the IRA
A Secret History of the IRA by award-winning journalist Ed Moloney. In The Blanket, an on-line journal, reviewer Liam O Ruairc described the book as potentially "the standard if not the definitive work on the history of the Provisional IRA"...
. A second edition of the book was published for Irish and UK audiences in July 2007. This was followed, in 2008, by a new edition of Paisley: From Demagogue to Democrat?, of which Moloney is the single author.
In 1999, Moloney was voted Irish Journalist of the Year.
In March 2010, the book Voices from the Grave was published, which featured interviews with Brendan Hughes
Brendan Hughes
Brendan Hughes , also known as "The Dark", was an Irish republican and former Officer Commanding of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army...
and David Ervine
David Ervine
David Ervine was a Northern Irish politician and the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party .-Biography:...
, complied by researchers for Boston College. Moloney based the book on the interviews given by Hughes and Ervine. Excerpts from the book published by The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
show Hughes discussing his role and the alleged role of Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
in the IRA. Events recorded in the book include both Adams's and Hughes's own actions in regards to the disappearance of Jean McConville
Jean McConville
Jean McConville was a woman from Northern Ireland who, in 1972, was abducted and killed by the Provisional IRA and secretly buried on a beach in the Republic of Ireland. The IRA subsequently claimed that she had been passing information on republican activities to British security forces...
and others, Bloody Friday
Bloody Friday (1972)
Bloody Friday is the name given to the bombings by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Belfast on 21 July 1972. Twenty-two bombs exploded in the space of eighty minutes, killing nine people and injuring 130....
, and the sourcing of IRA weapons, among other details of Hughes' IRA career. In October 2010, the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ aired an 83-minute documentary co-produced by Moloney based on Voices from the Grave. In February 2011, Voices From the Grave won the best television documentary prize at the annual Irish Film and Television Awards
Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
(IFTAs). He also blogs at thebrokenelbow.com
The killing of Pat Finucane
On 27 June 1999, Moloney published a story based on his 1990 interviews he had with UDA quartermaster Billy Stobie. Stobie claimed that, in a separate incident, the Special Branch had framed him up by planting guns at his home. He related his version of the circumstances of Pat FinucanePat Finucane (solicitor)
Patrick Finucane was a Catholic Belfast solicitor killed by loyalist paramilitaries on 12 February 1989. His killing was one of the most controversial during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Finucane came to prominence due to successfully challenging the British Government over several important...
's death to be published as assurance should anything untoward happen to him. The account was published when, as part of the Stevens Enquiry Stobie was arrested and charged with Finucane's murder.
Moloney refused to comply with a court order that he should hand over notes he had made during the interviews to the police. He faced jail or heavy fines but, in October 1999, Lord Chief Justice
Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is the head of the judiciary in Northern Ireland, presiding over the Courts of Northern Ireland. The present Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is Sir Declan Morgan...
Sir Robert Carswell ruled at the High Court in Belfast that the judge had been misguided to order Moloney to give up his notes to the police.