Informed 11


Update Journalist safety in Northern Ireland


An alarming patern of police and security authorities’ surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland has come to light in recent years - notably with the vindication of NUJ members Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) following unlawful surveillance by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Te judgment in December 2024 described the decision by Sir George Hamilton, former PSNI chief constable, to authorise a surveillance operation as a breach of Article 8 and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as well as a breach of the Human Rights Act 1998. Tis is not an isolated case. Around the time of the verdict, PSNI admited to spying on at least 300 journalists and 500 lawyers in Northern Ireland. Our campaign in support of Birney and McCaffrey reflects our broad concern at the atitude of the PSNI to journalists and journalism. Following the IPT revelations, the 200-page McCullough Review into covert measures against journalists by PSNI was published in September 2025. Te Review showed that the


recommendation in the 1999 Paten Commission Report into the future of the policing in Northern Ireland that a Commissioner for Covert Law Enforcement should be established


Covert surveillance and lack of accountability have severely harmed confidence in policing in Northern Ireland among journalists and the wider civilian community.


Te PSNI leadership’s acceptance of the


report findings and recommendations marks a welcome change in approach. However, the scale of the challenge to improve public perceptions of policing in Northern Ireland cannot be underestimated and the restoration of trust remains a major challenge. Since 2019 – the year freelance journalist


remains prescient. Te NUJ believes this would address many of the fundamental issues arising from the McCullough Review and IPT hearings. Tis Paten Review recommended that the Commissioner would not only cover the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) but also MI5 and other law enforcement agencies. In September MI5 admited to illegally obtaining data from the phone of former BBC journalist Vincent Kearney during a separate IPT case. In addition, next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan, who was shot dead by the Loyalist Volunteer Force in September 2001


Reporting Gaza: Work, Life and Death


On 10 November the NUJ South Wales branch held a conference on working as a reporter in Gaza at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. Hala Hanina, a researcher from


Gaza, highlighted the need to listen to Palestinian journalists, who have been silenced and dehumanised by Israeli


forces’ campaign of targeted killing. Hanina read an article by Palestinian journalist Shaimaa Eid, which stated: “We write while suppressing our own pain and hunger, struggling to keep the words from collapsing before they reach the world – to show just how deep our oppression runs.” Journalist Jonathan


Lyra McKee was shot dead while observing a riot in Derry – over 70 incidents of threats or atacks on journalists in Northern Ireland have been documented. Most have gone unpunished: there have been only two successful prosecutions for threats against journalists since June 2022. Having been to the fore in defending media freedom, the NUJ has responded to a call for evidence by Te Northern Ireland Select Commitee on policing and security. Te submission notes the union’s recent positive engagement with the PSNI and reiterates our longstanding calls to safeguard journalists’ rights and defend media freedom. Tis includes calling on the UK government to appoint an independent body to fully investigate the extent of covert surveillance in Northern Ireland, and to establish an independent public inquiry into the murder of Martin O’Hagan.


Cook also spoke on the panel and there were screenings of documentaries by Claudio Laurini and Mike Joseph. South Wales branch member Andrew Draper closed the event by stressing the courage of journalists reporting from Gaza and calling for continued education and solidarity. Te conference also raised almost £300 for the IFJ Safety Fund.


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