30th anniversary of Veronica Guerin murder: sole convict Meehan could be released this year
Veronica Guerin, 36, was shot dead at traffic lights on the Naas Road in Dublin on the afternoon of 26 June 1996. Brian Meehan, 61, was sentenced to life in 1999 as the sole convict after the Special Criminal Court accepted evidence he drove the stolen motorcycle used in the killing, while Patrick Eugene Holland was named in court as the suspected pillion passenger who fired the shots. Holland died aged 70 in a UK prison in 2009, and John Gilligan, 74, was released in 2013 before being arrested in Spain in 2025 and receiving a suspended sentence in September 2023 in a drug trafficking case. Meehan has been allowed out of jail on weekends in recent months and could walk free for good in 2026.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Veronica Guerin, 36, was shot dead at traffic lights on the Naas Road in Dublin on the afternoon of 26 June 1996.
- Patrick Eugene Holland was named in court as the suspected pillion passenger who fired the shots that killed Guerin.
- In court
- The Special Criminal Court accepted evidence that Meehan drove the stolen motorcycle used in the killing.
- A Spanish court gave Gilligan a suspended sentence in September 2023 in a case alleging he and others were delivering drugs via the postal service.
- Sentence
- Brian Meehan, 61, was sentenced to life in 1999 as the sole convict for the murder.
- Other details
- Holland died aged 70 in a UK prison in 2009 after being jailed there for conspiracy to kidnap a businessman.
- Ward was jailed for 10 years for a serious prison riot in 1997 and was released in 2005.
- Gilligan was released from prison in 2013.
- Meehan has been allowed out of jail on weekends in recent months and could be released for good in 2026.
- Investigation
- Gilligan was arrested during a drug seizure operation in the south of Spain in 2025.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBrian Meehan was given a life sentence in 1999 for her murder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe Special Criminal Court accepted evidence that Meehan drove the stolen motorcycle used in the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPatrick Eugene Holland was named in court as the suspected motorcycle pillion passenger who fired the shots that killed Guerin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHolland died aged 70 in a UK prison in 2009 after being jailed there for conspiracy to kidnap a businessman. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard was jailed for 10 years for a serious prison riot in 1997 and was released in 2005. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan was released from prison in 2013. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan was arrested again during a drug seizure operation in the south of Spain last year. (irishtimes.com)
- whenVeronica Guerin was murdered on the afternoon of 26 June 1996 at traffic lights on the Naas Road in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA Spanish court gave Gilligan a suspended sentence in September 2023 in a case alleging he and others were delivering drugs via the postal service. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMeehan has been allowed out of jail on some weekends in recent months and could walk free for good this year. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Jun2026What happened to the killers of Veronica Guerin?
30th anniversary retrospective discussing the current status of those involved in the 1996 murder, including Meehan's potential release, Holland's death in a UK prison, Ward's overturned conviction, and Gilligan's acquittal and subsequent drug trafficking sentence.
victim, Veronica Guerin, 36, female, irish (judged from name)Veronica Guerinconvicted, Brian Meehan, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Meehansuspect, Patrick Eugene Holland, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Eugene Hollandaccused, 62, male, irish (judged from name)accused, John Gilligan, 74, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Gilligan