I watched this programme last night on TV3. It was presented and voiced by Paul Williams and sponsored by the Sunday World, the newspaper in which he writes his crimetacular column.
It was about how the CAB (Criminal Assets Bureau) came into being and some of the stuff in it was really interesting. From the state solicitor in Cork who went on the Late, Late Show in the early 90s saying “Er, watch out. There are serious drugs people using Ireland as a base and nobody’s doing anything about it” to the murder of Veronica Guerin there was a lot of fairly good stuff.
We got some lovely home footage of John Gilligan and family singing ‘The Wild Rover’ and their imitation Sopranos lifestyle was quite funny. And we heard about the opposition of some of the Labour Party to then Justice Minister Nora Owen trying to strengthen legislation which would make it easier to make life difficult for the criminals.
It was typical docu-drama kind of stuff, the talking heads, the moody shots, the slowing down of the audio and it echoing away when showing video clips but it was quite watchable, even with the Williams voice-over.
Where it became absolutely top class was when Williams was on camera. They would cut to him maybe once per section (there were 4 parts) and he was sitting in front a massive poster about the General, which I assume was a blow-up of his own book. Doing his most sincere face he would then read a bit from a script and then, no joke, read aloud from another one of his books – a tattered paperback in his hand, tilted so you could be sure to see who wrote it.
And here’s the best bit. Reciting a statement John Gilligan made to the Gardai he read it out in a ‘Dublin’ accent, just so you’d be sure to know this was a criminal he was talking about. He spat the word ‘fuck’ or ‘fuckin’ because only a Dublin criminal would say ‘fuck’ or ‘fuckin’ on TV. It reminded me of my old English teacher, a failed ham actor who, when he would read to us from the great works of literature, would put on an accent for each character.
It truly was hilarious. Toe-curlingly, double-squirmingly hilarious. Then, when he wasn’t reading, we saw him in various other situations, such as:
- Concentrating hard at his desk writing his article for that week’s paper in the newspaper office
- Sitting in his car, journalists notebook in his hand, obviously on some kind of stakeout
- Walking along outside the Four Courts (I think it was) at night, long black coat on, chewing gum and looking like he was a hard boiled reporter who was merely prowling the streets of his town looking for a story
It allowed him to use all the nickname he’s made up for the criminals Tom “Fatso” Murphy, Johnny “The Penguin” Reilly, Micky “The Hippo” Quinn, Bertie “The spoofer” Ahern, and such. And each nickname was spat out the same as the ‘fuck’ or ‘fuckin’ when he was playing the part of the Dublin criminal.
The ad breaks too were sponsored by the Sunday World with slogans. I can’t remember them too well but one of them was something like “If you think cocaine’s a party you’ll be going to a wake”. Whose wake? If it was your own wake you wouldn’t be going to it, would you? You’d have already been buried. The others were about following thugs and putting them on the front pages and things.
To me Paul Williams glamourises what he claims to hate. His stuff in the Sunday World is really terrible. It’s salacious, gossipy tripe, most of which is fed to him by Gardai and really does nothing to stop crime, only boost the profiles of the criminals who wallow in the infamy, and the author who, of course, has books to sell. One of the best things I ever heard in my life was that guy from jail calling him a ‘cunt’ on the Joe Duffy show. Criminal he might have been but that deserves some serious kudos.
Anyway, it’s on again next week and I highly recommend watching it. RTE must be sick to their back teeth TV3 have managed to produce laugh-out-loud comedy like that.
Paul Williams is an absolute cunt.
Paul “The Gee” Williams? Has a nice ring to it.
in the tv3 docu/soap paul referred to john gilligan as low life,be careful paul remember what became of the last journalist to piss off mr gilligan,im sure if he can get a mobile phone and booze and a male rubber doll in his cell in the nick im sure he can organize a hit on a sorry excuse of a reporter from a paper that a tramp would’nt sleep under let alone wipe his on, and as for your book why not give out copies to some homeless bums so they can burn it to keep warm on these cold nights,or you could put your efforts into writing something more practical like letting the country know how bertie is more crooked than micheal barrymore and all the guests at one of his pool parties and help us rid the country of the scruffy,mumbling prick……….WORD
I really like the way Williams pauses to emphasis and just in case you missed it, over uses adjectives.
Veronica Guerin wasn’t just shot, “she was shot from point. Blank. Range. With a powerful. Magnum. Handgun.”
Prick.
I got the feeling watching the show last night that Paul was quite envious of Veronica Guerin’s murder. I think he is angling for his own murder by criminal, you can’t buy that kind of publicity.
My favourite contrived pose of him was the one of him leaning over the balcony of some city centre penthouse.
Oh yeah, remember the the bit where he talked about Gilligan’s charge for beating up Veronica Guerin. The VO went along the lines of:
“But two weeks after her death the charges against John Gilligan were struck out in Kilcock court. The complainant could not pursue the case.
Veronica Guerin …. was dead!”
No fucking shit, arsehole.
All the programme lacked was some “Dum Dum DUUMMMM” music after everything he said.
Just curious if you saw the article in Sunday’s Tribune magazine? You are listed as one of 10 people helping to shape the noughties in Ireland!! Ryan Tubridy is another so you are probably choosing to ignore it.
I saw it all right. Exalted company I’m keeping these days.
My favourite bit was when he was just driving down the road in his car with shades on. He just looked so fucking cool.
And if that’s true about you being in a list of people shaping this country in the noughties I can only assume I was higher in the list.
PS is that book in Easons yet, I’m not walking all the way up there for no reason again.
It should be, it was definitely delivered to them.
Johnny5, if you are Damien Rice you were higher on the list.
I think it’s quite obvious that Johnny5 is Damien Rice.
I watched the program about Liam Lawlor last night, what was funny when the reporter kept saying “we don’t think he was in the racket himself” and the camera kept panning across the Dáil to focus on Bertie.
I can’t believe I missed it! Believe it or not I worked there [CAB, not TV3 or the Sunday World], was in from August 96 after the shooting until … later. Towards the back end of the 90’s Williams lived in the place – he was like the then C/Super’s personal PR man. I can’t stand the little bollix – Williams, not the Chief. He slanted everything so that certain folks were totally glorified, especially himself. The previous boss had a soft spot … ahem .. for Sharon NiBheolain. Mmmh, she was good to look at. Williams and his PR client now do an excellent double act on the after dinner speech and TV talk show circuit [no jokes about Laurel and Hardy please, they’re more like Cheech and Chong]. I believe it’s quite an earner. He must have the easiest job in the world. “Hello Garda, tell me something salacious about a bad person with a funny name and I’ll make you famous. Don’t worry about the name, if he hasn’t already got a good one I’ll make one up. Don’t worry too much about the facts either, if you haven’t got a good one I’ll …”. Can’t wait for next week. Did anyone tape it for me?
I think it’s quite obvious that Johnny5 is Damien Rice.
I wish to fuck that was true. Any man that can annoy THAT much deserves an awful lot of credit.
He’s also a very talented musician and all round nice fellow.
heh, you so funny.
Williams came across as a perfect bollix all right. Normally I look on solicitors as pond scum, but the State Solicitor bloke was a definite hero.
Definitely Sunday World quality television. Makes you nostalgic for RTE.
Interesting how the authorities always need more powers when they have more than enough already.
Wish I’d seen this now, heard him on Matt Cooper yesterday afternoon. I swaer he toned down the tabloidishness because he was speaking to the ‘big boys’ on The Last Word.
A bit like a cheeky brat who behaves himself when his uncle, from whom he craves validation, comes to visit.
Arghh, I was at a class and missed it, I hate that little fag. I can never understand why the Daly family did not sue him. I’m against the claim generation but that little toad needs to be made an example of. He such a twisted trouble starter. The odd thing is I know he is a wanker, you know he is a wanker, the more intelligent people in Ireland know he is a wanker, why the hell do we still watch it? I don’t read the tabloids but. had I know it was on I would have sat there watching it, only to bitch and give out about him. What is that about? One thing I do admire him for, is his balls, if I was going around fabricated stories about hardened criminals, I’d be in hiding, he doesn’t seem to give a shit.
When Miriam interviews Williams he doesn’t come off as the jerk who writes the sensationalist tripe. Letting him do the documentary was the mistake.
ah crap I missed it. I think I would have enjoyed it.
I actually don’t know who Paul Williams is, but he sounds like the cop from Intermission. or maybe the reporter.
I can’t remember they were both hideous.
What Eolai said, everything else was rather good and the state solicitor was excellent, the ONLY sour note was Williams and his tedious grandstanding.
I personally think Paul Williams has been watching to much Life On Mars…He thinks he’s the Sherriff and hes the deputy to the Law…..It was painful….
Technically the wake starts when you are laid out in the house, so you are around for some of the party but you just have to leave early.
Indeed, went looking for the book there on Saturday, no sign of it in Waterstones or Hodges Figgis. I hadn’t the imagination to think of any other bookshops at that pint so I just went and bought some beer.
Eason’s is the only place to date then?
MMN – Hughes & Hughes in Stephen’s Green – I nicked a copy yesterday.
” MMN – Hughes & Hughes in Stephen’s Green – I nicked a copy yesterday”
Oh No! Crime of the Century – I see front page, I see a book, I see a docu-drama TV programme. “Crock” won’t do at all. You’ll have to have better handle. Do you think you could survive being shot 7 or 8 times?
I was just in town – it’s in Dubray, Waterstones and Hodges Figgis. Didn’t see it Hughes and Hughes, Crock must have nicked the last copy.
Didn’t go as far as Easons.
Is it in the best seller section Twenty,with a big poster of the cover in the window,or will I have to search like fuck for it.
In Dubray it’s right at the front of the shop.
Twenty, there seems to be something flickering on your page and I can’t tell what it is.
P.S. I’m off to get three copies of your book.
Subliminaltastic.
Not really. I can’t read.
The book in in Chapters on Parnell St. I got a copy yesterday. I had to ask at information though, wasn’t on the shelves..
paul williams is a rat bastard (wanker)
Yeah, what a cunt!
“Subliminaltastic.”
As in a sneaky message tapping into the minds of the naive, so that “buy the book” would be lodged in their sub-consciousness and completely unknows to themselves they would endevor to buy the book and end up in Dubray book in hand uttering, “hey what’s going on here”. I like it. You sneaky devil you.
Paul Williams is a glory hunter, as was Veronica Guerin.
Self promotion is their game, or was her game beforeshe was “shot dead at point blank range”!
PW has the oul wans of this country terrified, and thinking he’s a hero!??!!
Grandstanding is right!!
Chuntzu’s first comment confirms everything I have suspected about the relationship between Williams and the Guards – suspect Paul Reynolds of RTE has the same close relationship? Really bad. Agree Yippee that Guerin (and her bosses) played a very dangerous game – Emily O’Reilly’s book on the subject confirms this in stark terms.
The jailbird who called Williams a cunt was subsequently shot dead.
It doesn’t do to slag Paul “The Cunt” Williams.
has anyone a link to the cab programme..i lin france and i missed it
Oh god, I’m watching the repeat now. The unbelievable hubris of the man. He actually edited Veronica Guerin’s interview down to the tiny exchange
“I’m not the only crime journalist ……. and you know, I think we might all be targets” before going all slo-mo and emotive. And just as we began, on cue, to think ..”Oh, I wonder did she mean our hero Paul?” he chimes in with “Veronica was a colleague of mine…”
As a wise man said up there somewhere ….
Prick!
Imagine being that BAREFACED about plugging books. Didnt see the show Thank god, cause I am just getting the liveline show out of my system…. He is an utter PRICK, no doubt. But the fucking Sindo and Sunday Wuddled sell a million plus copies each every Sunday… So these people sell papers… We live in a society full of people who give credence to these sort of cretins…
Anyone else think that McWilliams was a dead ringer for Colm Meaney’s character in Intermission. All he needed was some Clannad in the background and he’d have been all set.
Williams even.
indeed I did, see comment 22!
yeah as much as i hate that fucker williams and everthing the bollix does, plugging a book is not a crime, is that not what you have being doing for the last six months twenty – subliminaltastically nonetheless and with (debatably!) less of the bullshite.
Got no problem with the plugging of books, it’s the reading aloud from them in a terrible Dublin accent that I object to.
which accent then would you prefer?
No accent. Or Starvin Marvin from South Park.
ha. i dont think mr williams has that in his “reportoire”.
i thought that it was alright to watch…he wasnt that bad!!! he would want to watch what hes doing thoe….because of what happened to the last reporter to piss john Gilligan off!!! because all he has done is take over really from Veronica Guerin!! apart from a different story nd all of that!!
Be afraid…
“THE family of model Katy French (right) has given the goahead for a revealing TV3 documentary that filmed the model at her birthday party, just before her death.”
http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/katy-documentary-gets-green-light-from-family-1301234.html
Hey Williams if you’re reading this and of course you are because you’re a self obsessed prick, you’re a bottom feeding cunt who makes money from crime. You’re as insincere as they come. Oh and your hair cut is fuckin awful. Bet you get a short back and sides now.
might be a good time to note (if you can all be real for a second) that the story is true that it really happened and that to coin a phrase “they’re not gon away you know” gangland is a dangerous now as it ever was if not more so
the guy who called joe duffy to call williams a cunt was murdered a few weeks after he got out of jail, a week after the sunday world printed his picture with the headline ‘dead man walking’ on their front page. his sister was on joe during the week giving out shite. I haven’t heard joe for a long time, he is truly fucking awful, apres match had him perfectly, but williams is an obnoxious, smarmy little prick. he’s the housewives’ hero and he fuckin loves it.
i would just like to say to you mr paul pussy willams that ur drity and currupt ur self and write a pack of lies and get innosent peple killed;ps when it knocks at youe owen door u will no then;
helo willams ur a liyer as the chap said on the live show .so willams ur as bent as all the rest of tony hickeys crew
every one here going on about how much of a bolix paul is,,how is he,he is only bringing to light the crime going on in ireland,,he is a lot more brave than ne blogers on this including me,,,
When is the Monday Programme being repeated again!? i really need te know if it is, missed tuesdays repeat! :(
your all idiots. so what if paul williams puts on an accent and poses for a camera on TV3, its about time there are people who stand up to the gobshites in ireland trying to ruin the country with drugs, crime, bullying etc. dont glorify criminals or take the piss out of someone who writes about them, i think fair play and i think the naming and shaming of all these so called crime lords is the right thing to do and heres to more years of the CAB taking all their “hard earned cash”!! haha
p WILLIAMS SHOULD BE LOCKED UP WITH ALL HIS BUUA BUDDIES THAT HE GET’S A TRILL OUT OF
Bubba
cunt
williams u lil runt ur d biggest dealer in d country
can i get copies of the dirty money programme. mr williams has left himself wide open to a legal matter due to his sloppy use of archive footage and defamatory comments. anybody record episode 1. E mail oneill.donna@yahoo.ie
I think paul is the truest most brave journalist since murdered journalist veronica guerin!!!!!!
No criminal is goin to kill Paul Williams, he is the fictional side of the joker and batman routine, he creates annarchy into irish crime.
ya what a terrible thing…bringing to the publics attention the biggest scumbags in ireland who are responsible of a lot of what’s wrong with the country.
morons…
Watched it..
To be honest it was mostly a load of shit.
Hickey was spot on..
Williams must be about to release a new book… maybe they will find a fake bomb under his wig this time..
ps..Twenty Major..you know him so well