Latest news with #LyraMcKee
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
More than 70 attacks or death threats against journalists in North recorded
There have been more than 70 attacks and death threats against journalists in the North over the last six years, a report by Amnesty International has found. The region has been described as the most dangerous place in Ireland and Britain to be a reporter following the report which includes accounts from journalists under threat. Advertisement Occupational Hazard? Threats And Violence Against Journalists In Northern Ireland reveals that reporters have been told they will be shot or stabbed, threatened with bombs under their car and given 48-hour ultimatums to leave. Lyra McKee was killed in 2019 (Family handout/PA) Two journalists, Martin O'Hagan and Lyra McKee, were killed in 2001 and 2019 respectively, while others have been physically attacked, had equipment damaged and cars battered with poles laced with nails. Many journalists have taken safety measures in their homes with bulletproof windows and doors with alarms linked up to police stations. The report has added up more than 70 incidents of threats or attacks on journalists in Northern Ireland since the start of 2019. Advertisement Most of the threats have come from a range of proscribed paramilitary groups – loyalist and republican – as well as from armed organised crime groups, some with links to paramilitaries. The report also finds that most threats against journalists go unpunished, and there have been no prosecutions for any threats from paramilitary groups. Some journalists interviewed by Amnesty for the report said they feel the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has failed to effectively investigate attacks and threats against them. Since June 2022, there have been only two successful prosecutions for threats against journalists. Advertisement The report additionally finds that with journalists excluded from the Government's home protection scheme, which funds the installation of security measures, many have been left feeling at risk. The report makes a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a new media safety group by Justice Minister Naomi Long, with representatives from the PSNI, Public Prosecution Service (PPS), media organisations and the NUJ, to deliver a new journalist safety strategy. It also calls for the PSNI to review its procedural response to threats and attacks against journalists and conduct investigations capable of leading to successful prosecutions, and to produce new guidance and training for officers on the protection of journalists during public disorder. The Northern Ireland Office and Department of Justice have been urged to ensure at-risk journalists can access the home protection scheme. Advertisement The UK government has also been urged to establish an independent public inquiry into the 2001 murder of Martin O'Hagan if the expected Police Ombudsman's investigation finds serious failings or wrongdoing by the police. Seamus Dooley of the National Union of Journalists (Liam McBurney/PA) Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International UK's Northern Ireland director, said Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in the UK for journalists. 'They are being threatened, attacked and even killed for shining a light on paramilitary groups and others who seek to exert control through violence,' he said. 'This creates a climate of fear that many assumed was consigned to history when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. Advertisement 'Yet there has not been a single prosecution for threats against journalists from paramilitary groups. This sense of impunity only emboldens those behind the threats. 'When journalists are under attack, press freedom is under attack. The state must create a safe environment where journalists can work freely and report without fear of reprisals. It is currently failing to do so.' National Union of Journalists assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley added: 'In what is supposed to be normalised society, post the peace process, journalists are living in fear and behind high-security measures. 'That really is not the sign of a normal functioning democracy.' Responding, Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, who acts as the PSNI lead for journalist safety, said police have received the Amnesty report and 'will take time to consider the contents and recommendations'. 'The Police Service of Northern Ireland takes the safety of journalists very seriously and has been very much involved in developing both national and local plans to tackle this issue over the last couple of years,' he said. 'As a result, we have developed a joint strategy and joint plan with NUJ and with local editors. 'We have appointed two Journalist Safety Officers, established an internal Journalist Safety Group, implemented screening arrangements within our contact management centre and ensured that reports of threats and crimes by journalists are investigated by detectives. 'The Police Service has also arranged a number online seminars for local media around internet and personal safety. 'Journalists do not have to tolerate threats and crimes as part of their role. That has been our recent, consistent message. If any journalist needs advice in relation to an incident, threat or crime which is connected to your role as a journalist, please contact 101 and report the matter. 'I would also encourage journalists to speak with one of the Journalist Safety Officers in our Strategic Communications and Engagement Department.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Report highlights more than 70 threats or attacks on journalists
There have been 71 attacks or threats on journalists in Northern Ireland since 2019, a report by Amnesty International has found. The report features 26 interviews, including 22 with journalists in which they recounted their experiences of being told they will be shot or stabbed, and threatened with bombs under their also said that many journalists no longer report threats due to "time consuming processes and lack of action or positive outcome".Patrick Corrigan, the human rights organisation's Northern Ireland director, said Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in the UK for journalists. The report is dedicated to Martin O'Hagan and Lyra McKee, two journalists who were killed in 2001 and 2019 O'Hagan, who was a journalist for the Sunday World newspaper, was shot dead by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) in Lurgan, County Armagh, in McKee died after being struck by a bullet while observing rioting in Creggan in Londonderry in 2019. Lack of prosecutions The report said petrol bombs had been thrown at journalists' cars, and pipe bombs left close to their homes. It added that "several journalists report that they are receiving more threats in recent years than ever before".These threats were said to be primarily from armed paramilitaries, as well as organised crime journalists told the organisation they had "lost count" of the threats they have report said since June 2022, only two people have been successfully prosecuted for threats against journalists, none of which were made by paramilitary groups. It also reported that one media company has spent tens of thousands of pounds on ensuring journalists' homes are protected. Mr Corrigan said threats created "a climate of fear that many assumed was consigned to history"."When journalists are under attack, press freedom is under attack," he added. National Union of Journalists (NUJ) assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley said that in "what is supposed to be normalised society, post the peace process, journalists are living in fear and behind high-security measures."That really is not the sign of a normal functioning democracy."Among the journalists interviewed, was Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris, who police visited on nine occasions between December 2023 and October 2024 to deliver threats from paramilitary or criminal Morris told the report: "I'm convinced someone's going to kill me at some point. "Most of the time, I pretend that the threats don't annoy me, but clearly, they do. Sunday World Northern Editor Richard Sullivan said threats included being "given 48 hours to get out of the country or I'd be shot".Photographer Kevin Scott, from the Belfast Telegraph, said he has three cars and alternates his use of them for safety Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have been asked for a response to the report. Report recommendations The report makes a number of recommendations including:asking the justice minister to establish and chair a new Media Safety Group, with representatives from the PSNI, Public Prosecution Service, media organisations and the NUJ, to deliver a new journalist safety strategysaying the PSNI must review its procedural response to threats and attacks against journalists and conduct investigations capable of leading to successful prosecutionscalling on the PSNI to produce new guidance and training for officers on the protection of journalists during public disordersaying the Northern Ireland Office and Department of Justice should ensure at-risk journalists can access the Home Protection Schemecalling on the UK government to establish an independent public inquiry into the murder of Martin O'Hagan "if the expected Police Ombudsman's investigation finds serious failings or wrongdoing by the police"
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
More than 70 attacks or death threats against journalists in NI recorded
There have been more than 70 attacks and death threats against journalists in Northern Ireland over the last six years, a report by Amnesty International has found. The region has been described as the most dangerous place in the UK to be a reporter following the report which includes accounts from journalists under threat. Occupational Hazard? Threats And Violence Against Journalists In Northern Ireland reveals that reporters have been told they will be shot or stabbed, threatened with bombs under their car and given 48-hour ultimatums to leave. Two journalists, Martin O'Hagan and Lyra McKee, were killed in 2001 and 2019 respectively, while others have been physically attacked, had equipment damaged and cars battered with poles laced with nails. Many journalists have taken safety measures in their homes with bulletproof windows and doors with alarms linked up to police stations. The report has added up more than 70 incidents of threats or attacks on journalists in Northern Ireland since the start of 2019. Most of the threats have come from a range of proscribed paramilitary groups – loyalist and republican – as well as from armed organised crime groups, some with links to paramilitaries. The report also finds that most threats against journalists go unpunished, and there have been no prosecutions for any threats from paramilitary groups. Some journalists interviewed by Amnesty for the report said they feel the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has failed to effectively investigate attacks and threats against them. Since June 2022, there have been only two successful prosecutions for threats against journalists. The report additionally finds that with journalists excluded from the Government's home protection scheme, which funds the installation of security measures, many have been left feeling at risk. The report makes a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a new media safety group by Justice Minister Naomi Long, with representatives from the PSNI, Public Prosecution Service (PPS), media organisations and the NUJ, to deliver a new journalist safety strategy. It also calls for the PSNI to review its procedural response to threats and attacks against journalists and conduct investigations capable of leading to successful prosecutions, and to produce new guidance and training for officers on the protection of journalists during public disorder. The Northern Ireland Office and Department of Justice have been urged to ensure at-risk journalists can access the home protection scheme. The UK government has also been urged to establish an independent public inquiry into the 2001 murder of Martin O'Hagan if the expected Police Ombudsman's investigation finds serious failings or wrongdoing by the police. Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International UK's Northern Ireland director, said Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in the UK for journalists. 'They are being threatened, attacked and even killed for shining a light on paramilitary groups and others who seek to exert control through violence,' he said. 'This creates a climate of fear that many assumed was consigned to history when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. 'Yet there has not been a single prosecution for threats against journalists from paramilitary groups. This sense of impunity only emboldens those behind the threats. 'When journalists are under attack, press freedom is under attack. The state must create a safe environment where journalists can work freely and report without fear of reprisals. It is currently failing to do so.' National Union of Journalists assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley added: 'In what is supposed to be normalised society, post the peace process, journalists are living in fear and behind high-security measures. 'That really is not the sign of a normal functioning democracy.' Responding, Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, who acts as the PSNI lead for journalist safety, said police have received the Amnesty report and 'will take time to consider the contents and recommendations'. 'The Police Service of Northern Ireland takes the safety of journalists very seriously and has been very much involved in developing both national and local plans to tackle this issue over the last couple of years,' he said. 'As a result, we have developed a joint strategy and joint plan with NUJ and with local editors. 'We have appointed two Journalist Safety Officers, established an internal Journalist Safety Group, implemented screening arrangements within our contact management centre and ensured that reports of threats and crimes by journalists are investigated by detectives. 'The Police Service has also arranged a number online seminars for local media around internet and personal safety. 'Journalists do not have to tolerate threats and crimes as part of their role. That has been our recent, consistent message. If any journalist needs advice in relation to an incident, threat or crime which is connected to your role as a journalist, please contact 101 and report the matter. 'I would also encourage journalists to speak with one of the Journalist Safety Officers in our Strategic Communications and Engagement Department.'
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Alleged dissident boss claims PM ordered MI5 to ‘take down IRA' after Lyra McKee murder
An alleged New IRA leader charged with directing terrorism believes he was targeted by MI5 over the British Government's embarrassment at the murder of journalist Lyra McKee.
Irish Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Journalists pay tribute to late Lyra McKee as her picture is unveiled at Belfast's Reporters Bar
A photograph of the late journalist Lyra McKee has been unveiled in The Reporters Bar in Belfast to mark International Press Freedom Day. Ms McKee (29) died after being struck by a bullet fired at police during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry on April 18th, 2019. The New IRA admitted responsibility. Before her death, Ms McKee was also a campaigner for women's reproductive rights and for equality for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Just a few weeks before her death, she had been listed by The Irish Times as one of the 10 rising stars of Irish writing. READ MORE The Reporters Bar, which opened in 2021, is located in what was once the home of many of the city's press offices and is next to the old Belfast Telegraph building. The bar reflects Belfast's publishing past and features dozens of photos Northern Ireland reporters and framed articles. The picture was unveiled at an event attended on Saturday by Ms McKee's sister, Nichola McKee Corner, and National Union of Journalists assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley, Anne Hailes, who is chair of the union's Belfast and district branch, and Ciaran Hanna from the branch. The picture of Lyra McKee now hangs on a wall at The Reporters Bar in Belfast. Photograph: Kevin Cooper/Photoline World Press Freedom Day was established in 1993 by the UN General Assembly to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) declared 2024 had been the 'deadliest' year for journalists since it began collecting data three decades ago. At least 124 journalists and media workers were killed last year, nearly two-thirds of them Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank , according to the CPJ. In a statement to mark the 2025 press freedom day, the Council of Europe warned that journalists across the council's 46 member states continued to face 'growing threats to their safety, their integrity, and their right to inform'. 'Freedom of the press cannot exist where fear prevails,' said Maja Zaric, chair of the committee for media and information society of the Council of Europe. 'Freedom of the media is freedom for all of us, and journalist safety is not a privilege – it is a democratic necessity. Let us defend it – today and every day.'
