Williams book contains contempt of court material

SOME material in a book by Sunday World Crime Editor Paul Williams entitled Crime Wars, which is on sale, is in criminal contempt of court orders and there will be consequences if it remains on sale, a High Court judge has said.

Justice Brian McGovern announced his finding against two newspaper editors: Colm McGinty (Sunday World), and Des Gibson (Star on Sunday); two journalists: Mr Williams of the Sunday World and Ken Foy of the Star on Sunday; two newspaper publishers: Independent Star, publisher of The Star on Sunday and Sunday News, publisher of the Sunday World.

He made a similar finding of criminal contempt against Merlin Books, publisher of Mr Williams’ book Crime Wars.

The contempt orders were sought by John O’Donnell SC, instructed by solicitor Joe Burke of McCartan Burke solicitors, for two of four persons against whom proceedings have been brought by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

The High Court had made orders preventing publication of information which would identify the persons.

The judge said a certain reference in the book was “extremely serious” and not only was it a breach of the in camera rule, but it also “raised worrying questions” as to how the material came into the hands of the author.