Paul Williams (Irish journalist)

Paul Williams (born 1964) is an Irish journalist and author.

First educated in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, Ireland, he later studied journalism at the Rathmines School of Journalism in Dublin before pursuing post-graduate studies in criminology.

Background

Williams is the author of best-selling crime boss exposé, "The General" and "The Untouchables" (2006). As a crime correspondent in The Sunday World, Williams first broke before other members of the Irish press many news stories on the notorious Martin Cahill (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) and "Crimelords" (2003). A on the history of the Criminal Assets Bureau by Paul Williams began on January 2008 on TV3.

Currently a member of the Washington-based [http://projects.publicintegrity.org/icij/ International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)] , Williams is a recipient of two national journalism awards (Print Journalist [1995] and Campaigning Journalist [1996] awards), the Humbert Summer School International Media Award and the Premier Award of the Irish Security Industry Association (2006).clarifyme

Williams is married and has two children.

History

After the murder of the noted crime correspondent Veronica Guerin in 1996, Williams took over the mantle of "The Sunday World" reporting on some of Ireland's most notorious criminals. His articles appear weekly there where he maintains a vast archive of background material. [Columnists index. [http://www.sundayworld.com/columnists/index.php "Paul Williams: Crime Writer"] . "The Sunday World. 2008]

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. [cite web |url= http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0316/williamsp.html |title= Man acquitted of threatening journalist |accessdate=2007-06-09 |date= 2007-03-16 |publisher= Radio Telefís Éireann] 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.

References