PRESS RELEASE

OSCE Media Freedom Representative condemns serious threats against journalists in Northern Ireland

VIENNA, 9 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned today the threats against journalists of two newspapers in Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom.

According to reports, earlier this week, the South East Antrim UDA, a dissident loyalist group, issued serious threats against journalists of the Sunday World and Sunday Life newspapers. The Police Service of Northern Ireland warned the journalists that they were at risk of immediate attack, which included a plot to bomb a car belonging to one of the journalists. The threats are possibly linked to the newspapers’ coverage of murders and paramilitary activities in Northern Ireland in recent years.

“I strongly condemn these abhorrent threats against journalists of the Sunday World and Sunday Life newspapers,” said Representative Désir. “Such threats have no place in a democratic society, and underline the risks that journalists covering paramilitary activities continue to face in Northern Ireland. I commend the work of the authorities in the United Kingdom in warning the journalists of these threats and in carrying out necessary investigations. I hope that those responsible for these threats are swiftly brought to justice.”

The Sunday World, which has received threats in the past, was the newspaper where investigative journalist Martin O’Hagan, who was killed in 2001, worked. (See the Representative’s previous statements on his case here: https://www.osce.org/fom/270206; https://www.osce.org/fom/124419).  

This latest incident comes one year after the death of journalist Lyra McKee, who was killed in 2019 while covering riots in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The Representative has also raised several other incidents earlier this year regarding threats against journalists in Northern Ireland.

On 5 February, reporter Leona O’Neill was the target of threats and accusations following her coverage of a commemoration event to mark the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre. (See the Representative’s statement here: https://twitter.com/OSCE_RFoM/status/1247891458218012672?s=20).

On 8 April, a journalist of the Irish News received death threats from dissident republicans. (See the Representative’s statement here: https://twitter.com/OSCE_RFoM/status/1225103227982700549?s=20).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and at www.facebook.com/osce.rfom. 

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