As a long-time member of the National Union of Journalists, I fully supported the NUJ campaign following the condemnation of the arrests of the two journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey who were involved in the production of No Stone Unturned, a documentary on the Loughinisland massacre in 1994. The film shown in Loughinisland last year was a no-holds-barred challenge to the police and the legal system and the alleged killer was mentioned in the film.
Find below the urgent appeal from the NUJ to its members which I have signed. The freedom of the press must not be stifled in our modern, liberal democracy. I appreciate the huge sensitivities around the Loughinisland shooting, but if we are to heal as a society, we must work together to find solutions to the problems we share. Once again, instead of a process of reconciliation and building of trust, we have a virulent ‘us and them’ scenario developing which does nothing to ease the tensions in the peace process. Trade unions are the bastions of worker and civil rights in our country and their voice MUST be heard.
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Support investigative journalists under threat.
“Be the arrow not the target” writes Raymond Williams.Â
The arrest of journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey on Friday 31 August by detectives from Durham Constabulary, supported by officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland represents an attack on investigative journalism.Â
The documentary, “No Stone Unturned“, sheds light on the six unsolved murders in a violent attack on civilians in Loughinisland, County Down, Northern Ireland in 1994.
The film is an outstanding example of public interest journalism. The documentary raises serious questions about the police investigation into the attack.
We condemn the targeting of those who seek the truth and the attempt to criminalise media workers.
The foundation on which all confidential information is exchanged between a journalist and a source is mutual trust. The ability of journalists to act in the public interest is contingent on their ability to honour commitments made in good faith to a source of confidential information. This principle is enshrined in the NUJ’s ethical code of conduct.
https://www.nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code/
The highest level of protection, under international law, must be afforded to journalists in respect of privacy in their communications and in respect to the right to protect confidential sources of information received and published in the public interest.
The NUJ has strongly condemned the arrest of Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, in violation of their rights under the European Convention of Human Rights and was gravely concerned by the manner of their detention and the implication for investigative journalism in Northern Ireland.Â
We the undersigned demand the immediate lifting of the threat of legal action against Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey.
We further demand that the police authorities and prosecutors give due recognition to the right of journalists to protect confidential sources of information, with particular reference to Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.Â
We support the campaign by the NUJ in defence of Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, to whom we extend our support and solidarity.
Signed:Â Jim Masson.
If anyone agrees with this petition, please go to the Down News facebook page and LIKE the article to show solidarity with the two journalists who were arrested.
