Dublin crime journalist is target of hoax bomb

A prominent Dublin crime correspondent, who works on a sister paper to that of Veronica Guerin, the murdered journalist, was the target of a hoax bomb attack yesterday.

A device was planted under the car of Paul Williams, of the Sunday World, outside his south Dublin home in the early hours of the morning.

Almost 40 homes in the housing estate were evacuated while the "bomb" was examined by Irish army experts who eventually declared it to be an elaborate hoax. It contained wires, batteries, putty and a circuit board, but no explosives.

The incident is regarded as a threat to Mr Williams, who writes articles and books on the Dublin criminal underworld that often rattle the dangerous characters who inhabit it.

In 1996 Ms Guerin, a crime correspondent, was shot dead by criminals. The Dublin crime scene is particularly dangerous now, with gangs resorting to murder in disputes over drugs and money. More than a dozen gangland killings have taken place in Dublin this year, with others occurringin Limerick. The government recently announced plans to devote more police resources and money to the problem.

Mr Williams said yesterday: "What's really upsetting me and really depressing me is the fact that all these neighbours, really good neighbours of mine, have actually had to move out. I've an idea who did it but we're not going to go into it now." He added: "We are living in an era where organised crime seems to be taking off, and criminals are intimidating everybody and threatening everybody. They are not going to intimidate or threaten me. They have killed two of my colleagues, and it is not going to happen any more."

Among the suspects are former members of the Irish National Liberation Army, a terrorist group that is now largely inactive. A number of men who were associated with the group at various stages have drifted away from terrorism and into straight crime.

Some of them would have the capacity to make hoax bombs such as the one used yesterday. Security for the Williams family is being increased.

The Sunday World is a brash tabloid that specialises in exposing the activities of gangland figures, including their involvement in drugs, robberies, brothels and other illegal activities.