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Conference backs probe into O’Hagan murder


A motion seeking support for an international dimension to the NUJ’s ongoing campaign for an independent investigation into the murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan has been backed by delegates at the Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Biennial Delegate Conference. The 2018 Delegate Meeting at Southport also


agreed a similar motion, tabled by the Irish Executive Council. The motion brought to the ICTU delegate


conference noted that more than 16 years after the murder of the Belfast-based investigative journalist and trade union activist, there have been no convictions for the crime. The NUJ has expressed no confidence in the willingness or ability of the PSNI to pursue those responsible for his murder.


Speaking on the opening day of NIC-ICTU’s


Conference in Derry, IEC delegate Bernie Mullen re-iterated that O’Hagan exposed criminality and corruption in Northern Ireland without fear or favour. He was shot dead on September 28th, 2001 as he walked home from a night out with his wife. The motion called on the Northern Ireland Committee and the ICTU Executive to support the NUJ campaign for an independent, external investigation into the O’Hagan murder and to engage with relevant authorities in Northern Ireland, the British and Irish governments; with international institutions including the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the UN, in support of such an investigation. NIC-ICTU’s ‘Better Work, Better Lives’


conference was held in the City Hotel on April 11-12th.


The motion agreed at Southport instructed the NEC to enlist the support of the Organisation for


Bernie Mullen


Photo: Maxwell Photography


Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the UN to carry out an effective and independent international investigation into the murder of Mr. O’Hagan, and acknowledged the failure of the investigation by UK police, especially the PSNI. Gerry Carson proposed the motion on behalf


of the Irish Executive Council and explained to delegates that he had worked with Martin, and knew his life was constantly under threat. He said the lack of justice for Martin cast a dark shadow on the police and public prosecution service – only a few days earlier another member of the Belfast branch had received death threats. Kathryn Johnston from the Belfast branch


seconded the motion. She said Martin was her friend and comrade, he had recruited her to the NUJ and gave her her first byline story. Kathryn added she was proud of the union for keeping up the struggle in Martin's name.


Surviving the first years as a journalist


The NUJ Irish Office is planning to hold a seminar in the autumn, advising students and newly graduated journalists how to survive the first few difficult years of their careers. Details will be announced later but it is intended to ask


freelance and staff journalists from a broad spectrum of the media to talk about their experiences and offer advice to young and emerging journalists on what to do and what to avoid in the formative years of their career.


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