Arrest Of Belfast Journalists Challenges Press Freedom- Fianna Fáil

Political party Fianna Fáil has said the arrest of two Belfast journalists represents a potential threat to press freedoms.

Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey were arrested over the suspected theft of documents belonging to the Police Ombudsman after their 2017 documentary title No Stone Unturned featured the sensitive material.

The programme explored the alleged police collusion in the Loughinisland massacre of 1994 and prompted the Northern Ireland Department of Justice to investigate the origins of the documents.

Earlier this month, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland denied it made the complaint that prompted the arrests.

Justice Spokesperson for Fianna Fáil, Jim O'Callaghan TD said: "Given that conflicting positions have emerged regarding the source of the complaint which triggered these arrests, it's clear that there are important questions that require answers.

"If it is indeed accurate that no complaint was made to police regarding these documents then the rights of both of these men have been breached and there must be accountability for these actions."

Brendan Smyth, TD for Cavan Monaghan said that the Police Ombudsman's denial that it was the source of the complaint, has "challenged any justification for police action or arrest of both journalists".

He added: "The freedom of the press protects and upholds a strong democracy and promotes transparency.

"It is in all our interest to ensure that those standards are preserved."

Mr McAffrey previously branded his arrest as an "attack on the press", but the police have defended their actions.

No Stone Unturned won the 'current affairs' category at the Royal Television Society Northern Ireland (RTS NI) awards at The Mac in Belfast on Thursday 15 November.



(JG)