Ed Moloney

Ed Moloney (born Edmund) 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.^[1]

In 1999, Moloney was voted Irish Journalist of the Year.^[2]

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.^[3] 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

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 Finucane'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.^[4]

Moloney refused to comply with a court order that he should hand over notes he had made during the interviews to the police.^[5] 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.^[6]

References