A journalist working for the Belfast-based Irish News has received a death threat connected to a current murder investigation.
The newspaper’s editor, Noel Doran, said: “A threat against a highly respected colleague is deplorable and all attempts to undermine press freedom must be firmly resisted whenever and wherever they emerge.”
He said the paper was taking the matter “very seriously” and the Northern Ireland police service (PSNI) was “fully aware” of the publisher’s concerns.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the issuing of the death threat, which was received on Friday.
Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of the NUJ, said it was “a sinister development”, adding that there was “a need for independent, fearless journalism in Northern Ireland and in the current climate we regard the death threat as especially worrying.” He continued:
“Journalists must be allowed to work in the public interest without intimidation. There is an obligation on those in positions of influence to work to ensure that reporters, photographers and editors are able to operate without risk or threat from any quarter.
Such threats have no place in a democratic society and should be condemned by all public representatives.”
Dooley pointed out that journalists in Northern Ireland would not be deterred by such threats and that “the Irish News has faced down bullies before.”
The NUJ said anyone with any information should cooperate fully with the PSNI.
The Irish News is a daily paper that sells more than 37,000 copies a day, mainly to the nationalist population in Northern Ireland.
Sources: Irish News/NUJ by email
