The Loss of Knowledge and Experience in the Troubles

Veteran journalist Ben Lowry reflects on the loss of Alan McQuillan, the founder of the Assets Recovery Agency, who passed away recently. McQuillan's agency was disbanded, likely due to its effectiveness in dismantling paramilitary organizations. With his death, a vast amount of knowledge and experience on the Troubles has been lost. Similarly, the passing of Ed Moloney, a renowned author on the subject, has also resulted in the loss of valuable information and insights.

Key Takeaways:

• Alan McQuillan's Assets Recovery Agency was disbanded, likely due to its effectiveness in dismantling paramilitary organizations.
• The loss of McQuillan and other experts on the Troubles, such as Ed Moloney, has resulted in a significant loss of knowledge and experience.
• Journalists, even those who have written extensively on the subject, cannot record all the information in their heads, making the loss of experts even more significant.
• The Assets Recovery Agency was a valuable resource in uncovering the truth about paramilitary organizations and their activities.
• The agency's work was instrumental in exposing the realities of the Troubles, providing a unique perspective on the conflict.
• The loss of experienced journalists and experts like McQuillan and Moloney is a significant setback for those seeking to understand the complexities of the Troubles.
• Their passing leaves a void in the knowledge and understanding of the Troubles, making it more challenging for future generations to learn from the past.

Statistics:

• Alan McQuillan lived for four more years after his cancer diagnosis, passing away after a terminal prognosis.
• Ed Moloney, a renowned author on the Troubles, died recently.
• The Assets Recovery Agency was disbanded, likely due to its effectiveness.
• Thousands of words are written by journalists every week, hundreds of thousands over a career span.
• It is estimated that journalists cannot record all the information in their heads, even after writing extensively on a subject.

Sources:

• Ben Lowry (@Benlowry2) is News Letter editor
• Image: Alan McQuillan's son Andrew, left, stands outside St Columba's as Rev Auchmuty greets Mr McQuillan's widow Heather, as their daughter Jane looks on, at the funeral service on Monday October 20 (News Letter)