 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 mistaken in ordering Moloney to turn over his notes to the police.In May 2020, Village magazine revealed attempts to assassinate Ed Moloney and Vincent Browne had been planned in 1982.In the February 1982 Irish general election Sinn Féin - The Workers' Party had won three seats and found themselves in a position of power.