news Most perilous UK area for journalists named


NORTHERN IRELAND is the most dangerous part of the UK for journalists, writes Anton McCabe. Amnesty International


asserts the UK is not upholding its international obligations to ‘sustain’ freedom of expression. Its report, Occupational


Hazard – Threats and Violence Against Journalists in Northern Ireland, states that death threats and attacks are increasing. Since the start of 2019, there


have been at least 71 threats or attacks. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has delivered 10 threat management forms to journalists since June 2022. Journalists have reported concerns to the PSNI 46 times. Amnesty accepts that not all


threats are reported. A further difficulty is that the police started keeping records for the Journalist Safety Group only three years ago. In addition, the Public Prosecution Service


does not routinely record the occupation of victims. Threats come from


paramilitaries and organised crime gangs, which can be linked, as well as from racist and anti-immigrant groups. Since the report was published, the latter have become more of a problem. The paramilitaries involved


are mostly Loyalist. The South-East Antrim Ulster Defence Association has issued a blanket threat to all journalists working for Mediahuis newspapers. Republican paramilitaries


are also a hazard. Journalists were petrol-bombed at an Easter commemoration in Derry in 2024. The police withdrew and a police helicopter hovered while officers watched a journalist run for his life. Photographer Kevin Scott, who called 999, alleges the response was: “You just need to get yourselves out of there.” The growth of heavily


not get the same level of abuse.” Devlin received a Facebook message threatening to rape her baby son. “Combat 18 was mentioned in the message,” she said. She identified the man responsible, who was not charged. The Police Ombudsman upheld her complaint of police failings. New NUJ national executive


armed organised crime gangs poses increasing danger. The report quotes Ciaran Barnes from the Sunday Life: “I think journalists are more at risk of being shot by a criminal gang than they are by paramilitary gangs because there are structures with paramilitary gangs.” Women journalists are


particular targets. Patricia Devlin said: “Male journalists who do the same job as me, who have written closer to the bone about paramilitaries, do


council member Amanda Ferguson was assaulted during an anti-immigrant march in Belfast. Though she videoed her attacker, he has never been charged. Amnesty says PSNI


responses have improved in very recent years. A Media Safety Group, including the NUJ, will start meeting by the end of the year. Journalists lack confidence in the police, Amnesty said, owing to “inadequate communication and lack of prosecutions”, “covert surveillance of journalists” and protection of informants being prioritised over solving crime.


A night to celebrate Eamonn McCann


DERRY and North West Ireland branch held a night with music and food to celebrate veteran Eamonn McCann being made an NUJ member of honour, writes Anton McCabe. Thanking the branch, McCann said the NUJ was an important part of his life, and in many ways was his life. He said: “I don’t see the NUJ just as a succession of individuals – I see


the people who have fought for the right to know and the right to tell.” He paid tribute to “ordinary journalists who have risked their lives, risked their jobs, lost their jobs”. He highlighted Derry and North West Ireland branch member and photographer Trevor McBride. “Trevor McBride delayed the onset of the Troubles by at least 15


seconds,” he said. “I remember the very first [civil rights] march [in October 1968], when we came up Duke Street, there was this big line of cops, as the two sides pushed forward, we became aware, standing on a chair between the two groups, there was Trevor McBride. The two groups were moving towards one another and Trevor shouted ‘Hold it!


Gold badges for Caroline and Gilbert


TWO longstanding NUJ activists have been celebrated by their branch as they were presented with gold badges in recognition of exceptional contribution to the union. The Sunderland, Shields and Hartlepool branch were joined by NUJ vice-president Georgina Morris in thanking


Caroline Sword and Gilbert Johnston for their work within chapels and branches since they each became members of the union in the 1970s. In nominating them, fellow


branch members highlighted their loyalty, reliability, selfless work ethic, outspokenness and personal courage.


Hold it!’ And people did.” While many have claimed a part in


stopping Northern Ireland’s Troubles, “the only person who really stopped it, albeit for a short period, was Trevor McBride of the NUJ”.


Georgina told the meeting:


“Caroline and Gilbert are the kind of members that every chapel and branch counts on, often taking on the roles that others were reluctant to fill. “Just as importantly, they


also made sure the voices of their fellow members were heard at a regional and national level.” It was not long after they each joined the union that


they stood in solidarity with fellow members in a national dispute over pay in 1978 and 1979. They also took part in a one-day national strike in the 1980s and the three-month ‘new technology’ strike in 1985 when Sunderland Echo colleagues stood in solidarity with their sister chapel and printers at the Portsmouth Evening News.


theJournalist | 05 “


I think journalists are more at risk of being shot by a criminal than a paramilitary gang because there are structures with paramilitary gangs


Ciaran Barnes Sunday Life


TREVOR MCBRIDE


AKO ISMAIL KARIM


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