Paul Williams (Irish journalist)
Encyclopedia
Paul Williams is an Irish
crime journalist and author. He previously worked for the Sunday World
tabloid newspaper; he moved to the Irish News of the World before it was caught up in the News International phone hacking scandal and shut down. After this he went to the Irish Sun newspaper where he is employed as "Investigations Editor".
In 2011 he joined the Irish Sun after the closure of the Irish News of the World.
, County Leitrim
. He attended secondary school
in Carrigallen
, Leitrim
. He moved to Dublin in 1984 to study journalism at the Rathmines
School of Journalism but dropped out after one year. He pursued post-graduate studies in criminology
.
Williams lives in a €1 million house in Rathfarnham
. He is married to Ann with whom he has two teenage children. He enjoys being among his associates in the pub; these associates are mostly serving or former gardaí, including former garda commissioner Pat Byrne and retired assistant commissioner Tony Hickey, as well as former Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea
and RTÉ's Joe Duffy
. Williams has been described as "a jealous guardian of his position as top dog among crime journalists".
Williams has been satirised as Paul 'The Hack' Williams on Oliver Callan
's Nob Nation
sketches on RTÉ Radio
.
(nicknamed "The General"). The General was made into a major award-winning movie
directed by John Boorman
. Williams' other books include Gangland (1998), Evil Empire (2001) Crimelords (2003), and "Crime Wars" (2008). The General was also published in the USA and Spain. "Evil Empire" was also published in the USA (Tor Forge New York) Williams also ghost-wrote the book Secret Love (1995) with Phylis Hamilton; this told the story of her secret 20-year love affair with Ireland's most outspoken Catholic priest on issues of sexual morality, Fr. Michael Cleary. Hamilton, who worked as Fr. Cleary's house keeper, had two sons with the celebrity cleric.
His latest book Badfellas was published at the end of October 2011.
on the history of the Criminal Assets Bureau
by Paul Williams began on January 2008 on TV3
; it won Best Documentary at that year's TV Now Awards
.
In Paul Williams Investigates—The Battle For The Gas Fields aired in June 2009 on TV3, Williams reported on the Corrib gas controversy
. Campaigners who are against the Corrib gas project argued the documentary was biased in favour of Royal Dutch Shell
- the title itself shows that the "battle" is "for" the gas fields. Irish Independent
reviewer John Boland also criticised Williams's obvious bias - "instead of providing an exposé [Williams] contented himself with innuendo and abuse", while "At the outset, he disingenuously asked if these 'vocal underdogs' were national heroes or 'villains' standing in the way of national progress, but he himself had no doubt about the answer, his attitude announcing itself in the language he used". The Irish Times
reporter Frank McDonald reported that the documentary failed to explain the aims of the Shell to Sea protesters. It is worth noting that TV3 is owned by Denis O'Brien
, a major shareholder in the Independent Media Group (owners of the Irish Independent
, Paul Williams's main journalistic employer) who is now firmly aligned with that group's owner, Tony O'Reilly
, who also owns an oil exploration company with an interest in the Corrib gas field. Complaints were made to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission but were rejected on the grounds that the broadcast gave a fair opportunity for both sides to have their say.
in 1996, Williams took over the mantle of Sunday World reporting on some of Ireland's most notorious criminals. His articles appear weekly there where, according to the newspaper's website, he maintains a vast archive of background material.
Williams has been the recipient of several death threats from organised crime and terrorist groups and has been receiving armed Garda protection for several years. The cost of this to the tax payer has been heavily criticised and questions were raised about why the Sunday World did not pay for this. However, all attempts on his life have either been hoaxes, false alarms or have led to the suspects being released when put on trial, so there have been no serious issues. On March 16, 2007, a man was acquitted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of "threatening to kill or cause serious harm" to Paul Williams. The jury of four men and seven women deliberated for just one hour and thirty minutes to acquit Walsh on both charges on the sixth day of the trial.
In 2003 Williams caused himself, his family and 150 neighbours to be evacuated from their homes when Gardaí found a bomb (later found to be a hoax) attached to his car. Williams responded in his usual way, saying "I am not going to stop taking on these bast**ds".
Paul Williams frequently quotes "unnamed sources" or "senior Gardaí" in his sensationalist reports, providing little or no corroborative evidence with regards to dates, times or fact, and frequently editorialises his own political agenda into his "objectivity".
Williams has been the subject of criticism that he is a mouthpiece for the police "who use his column to shape the public perception of the criminals he writes about and, quite possibly, to stir up tensions between rival gangs and major league villains". The Sunday Tribune
said a common criticism of Williams is that he is "little more than a cheerleader for the gardaí" and noted Williams's tendency to steer away from any crime or corruption within the force.
Williams has been criticised for his tendency to give nicknames such as "The Tosser", "The Penguin", "Babyface" and "Fatpuss" to the criminals he is reporting on. This has naturally only served to glamourise the criminals and to boost their public profile.
In 2008, the Sunday Tribune reported that "his stories these days almost take second place to his personal celebrity" and that "friends say that he is only too aware of this and has renegotiated his contract throughout the years to reflect his market value".
His Sunday World contract had seen Williams paid a salary of just €145,000, increased by 2.5 per cent in 2008 and 2009.
The dispute was settled soon after.
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...
crime journalist and author. He previously worked for the Sunday World
Sunday World
The Sunday World is an Irish newspaper published by Sunday Newspapers Limited, a division of Independent News and Media. It is the largest selling "popular" newspaper in the Republic of Ireland and is also sold in Northern Ireland .-Origins:The Sunday World was Ireland's first tabloid newspaper...
tabloid newspaper; he moved to the Irish News of the World before it was caught up in the News International phone hacking scandal and shut down. After this he went to the Irish Sun newspaper where he is employed as "Investigations Editor".
In 2011 he joined the Irish Sun after the closure of the Irish News of the World.
Education
Williams was first educated in BallinamoreBallinamore
Ballinamore is a small town in County Leitrim, Ireland, from the border with Northern Ireland. It is located on the R202 regional road where it is joined by the R199 and R204. means "mouth of the big ford", and the town is so named because it was the main crossing point of the Yellow River,...
, County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He attended secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Carrigallen
Carrigallen
Carrigallen is a small village in County Leitrim, Ireland. It is located on the R201 and R203 roads in the east of the county. The English translation of Carraig Álainn is "beautiful rock"....
, Leitrim
Leitrim
-In Ireland::* County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland* Leitrim, County Leitrim, a small village in the same county* Leitrim Station, a former railway station on the defunct Cavan & Leitrim Railway* Leitrim, County Down, a small village in Northern Ireland...
. He moved to Dublin in 1984 to study journalism at the Rathmines
Rathmines
Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has...
School of Journalism but dropped out after one year. He pursued post-graduate studies in criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
.
Williams lives in a €1 million house in Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
. He is married to Ann with whom he has two teenage children. He enjoys being among his associates in the pub; these associates are mostly serving or former gardaí, including former garda commissioner Pat Byrne and retired assistant commissioner Tony Hickey, as well as former Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea
Willie O'Dea
Willie O'Dea is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála for the Limerick City constituency. He served as the Minister for Defence from September 2004 until 18 February 2010, when he resigned from his post due to controversy over a defamation case.-Early and private life:O'Dea was born...
and RTÉ's Joe Duffy
Joe Duffy
Joseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...
. Williams has been described as "a jealous guardian of his position as top dog among crime journalists".
Williams has been satirised as Paul 'The Hack' Williams on Oliver Callan
Oliver Callan
Oliver Callan is an Irish vocal and performance satirist and impressionist known for featuring on Nob Nation, Green Tea and The Saturday Night Show. He rose to fame during the 2000s when his daily Nob Nation slots aired on RTÉ Radio...
's Nob Nation
Nob Nation
Nob Nation is the title of a series of topical comedy pieces broadcast since November 2006 on two national radio stations in Ireland, RTÉ 2fm and RTÉ Radio 1. The programmes are broadcast Monday through Saturday each week...
sketches on RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio is a department of Irish national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Radio broadcasts four analogue channels and five digital channels....
.
Books
Williams is the author of best-selling crime boss exposé, The General and The Untouchables (2006). As a crime correspondent with the Sunday World, Williams first broke before other members of the Irish press many news stories on the notorious Martin CahillMartin Cahill
Martin "The General" Cahill was a prominent Irish criminal from Dublin.Cahill generated a certain notoriety in the media, which referred to him by the sobriquet "The General". The name was also used by the media in order to discuss Cahill's activities while avoiding legal problems with libel...
(nicknamed "The General"). The General was made into a major award-winning movie
The General (1998 film)
The General is a British-Irish crime film directed by John Boorman about Dublin crime boss Martin Cahill, who pulled off several daring heists in the early 1980s, and attracted the attention of the Gardaí, PIRA, and UVF. The film was shot in 1997 and released in 1998...
directed by John Boorman
John Boorman
John Boorman is a British filmmaker who is a long time resident of Ireland and is best known for his feature films such as Point Blank, Deliverance, Zardoz, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, Hope and Glory, The General and The Tailor of Panama.-Early life:Boorman was born in Shepperton, Surrey,...
. Williams' other books include Gangland (1998), Evil Empire (2001) Crimelords (2003), and "Crime Wars" (2008). The General was also published in the USA and Spain. "Evil Empire" was also published in the USA (Tor Forge New York) Williams also ghost-wrote the book Secret Love (1995) with Phylis Hamilton; this told the story of her secret 20-year love affair with Ireland's most outspoken Catholic priest on issues of sexual morality, Fr. Michael Cleary. Hamilton, who worked as Fr. Cleary's house keeper, had two sons with the celebrity cleric.
His latest book Badfellas was published at the end of October 2011.
Television
A six-part TV seriesDirty Money: The Story of the Criminal Assets Bureau
Dirty Money: The Story of the Criminal Assets Bureau was an Irish crime program broadcast on TV3 at 10pm on Monday nights. The show began on February 25 and ended on April 3, 2008. The series comprised six one-hour episodes examining the role of the Criminal Assets Bureau . The program was...
on the history of the Criminal Assets Bureau
Criminal Assets Bureau
The Criminal Assets Bureau is a law enforcement agency in Ireland, the purpose of which is to recover the proceeds of organised crime. It is a division of the Garda , but reports annually to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform...
by Paul Williams began on January 2008 on TV3
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
; it won Best Documentary at that year's TV Now Awards
TV Now Awards
The TV Now Awards is an annual awards ceremony which takes place in Ireland...
.
In Paul Williams Investigates—The Battle For The Gas Fields aired in June 2009 on TV3, Williams reported on the Corrib gas controversy
Corrib gas controversy
The Corrib gas controversy concerns plans by Shell E&P Ireland, Statoil Exploration Limited, Vermilion Energy Trust and the Irish government for processing the Corrib gas field through Broadhaven Bay and Sruth Fada Conn Bay in Kilcommon parish, Erris, County Mayo, and objections raised against...
. Campaigners who are against the Corrib gas project argued the documentary was biased in favour of Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
- the title itself shows that the "battle" is "for" the gas fields. Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
reviewer John Boland also criticised Williams's obvious bias - "instead of providing an exposé [Williams] contented himself with innuendo and abuse", while "At the outset, he disingenuously asked if these 'vocal underdogs' were national heroes or 'villains' standing in the way of national progress, but he himself had no doubt about the answer, his attitude announcing itself in the language he used". 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...
reporter Frank McDonald reported that the documentary failed to explain the aims of the Shell to Sea protesters. It is worth noting that TV3 is owned by Denis O'Brien
Denis O'Brien
Denis O'Brien is an Irish businessman with international connections. An Arts graduate of University College Dublin, O'Brien has received a MBA in corporate finance from Boston College in 1982, and was later given an honorary doctorate by University College Dublin.O'Brien has involvement with...
, a major shareholder in the Independent Media Group (owners of the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
, Paul Williams's main journalistic employer) who is now firmly aligned with that group's owner, Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
, who also owns an oil exploration company with an interest in the Corrib gas field. Complaints were made to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission but were rejected on the grounds that the broadcast gave a fair opportunity for both sides to have their say.
Sunday World
After the murder of noted crime correspondent Veronica GuerinVeronica Guerin
Veronica Guerin was an Irish crime reporter who was murdered on 26 June 1996 by drug lords, an event which, alongside the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe three weeks earlier, helped establish the Criminal Assets Bureau....
in 1996, Williams took over the mantle of Sunday World reporting on some of Ireland's most notorious criminals. His articles appear weekly there where, according to the newspaper's website, he maintains a vast archive of background material.
Williams has been the recipient of several death threats from organised crime and terrorist groups and has been receiving armed Garda protection for several years. The cost of this to the tax payer has been heavily criticised and questions were raised about why the Sunday World did not pay for this. However, all attempts on his life have either been hoaxes, false alarms or have led to the suspects being released when put on trial, so there have been no serious issues. On March 16, 2007, a man was acquitted at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of "threatening to kill or cause serious harm" to Paul Williams. The jury of four men and seven women deliberated for just one hour and thirty minutes to acquit Walsh on both charges on the sixth day of the trial.
In 2003 Williams caused himself, his family and 150 neighbours to be evacuated from their homes when Gardaí found a bomb (later found to be a hoax) attached to his car. Williams responded in his usual way, saying "I am not going to stop taking on these bast**ds".
Paul Williams frequently quotes "unnamed sources" or "senior Gardaí" in his sensationalist reports, providing little or no corroborative evidence with regards to dates, times or fact, and frequently editorialises his own political agenda into his "objectivity".
Williams has been the subject of criticism that he is a mouthpiece for the police "who use his column to shape the public perception of the criminals he writes about and, quite possibly, to stir up tensions between rival gangs and major league villains". 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,...
said a common criticism of Williams is that he is "little more than a cheerleader for the gardaí" and noted Williams's tendency to steer away from any crime or corruption within the force.
Williams has been criticised for his tendency to give nicknames such as "The Tosser", "The Penguin", "Babyface" and "Fatpuss" to the criminals he is reporting on. This has naturally only served to glamourise the criminals and to boost their public profile.
In 2008, the Sunday Tribune reported that "his stories these days almost take second place to his personal celebrity" and that "friends say that he is only too aware of this and has renegotiated his contract throughout the years to reflect his market value".
News of the World
After receiving what he described as "a substantial offer" thought to involve a €250,000 salary, Williams left the Sunday World, where he had worked for 23 years, in January 2010, and joined the Irish News of the World as its crime editor. However, the Sunday World took out a High Court injunction in an effort to prevent him from taking up his new position until his three month's notice to leave had expired.His Sunday World contract had seen Williams paid a salary of just €145,000, increased by 2.5 per cent in 2008 and 2009.
The dispute was settled soon after.