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Death threat to Northern Ireland journalist Death threat to Northern Ireland journalist
(4 months later)
Police in Northern Ireland have informed a journalist that dissident republicans have issued a death threat against him. It is the latest in a series of similar incidents in which reporters are being subject to continual intimidation.Police in Northern Ireland have informed a journalist that dissident republicans have issued a death threat against him. It is the latest in a series of similar incidents in which reporters are being subject to continual intimidation.
No wonder the Belfast branch of the National Union of Journalists has registered its concern at "the growing number of threats."No wonder the Belfast branch of the National Union of Journalists has registered its concern at "the growing number of threats."
It has called on the group responsible for the latest threat to lift it and say so in public.It has called on the group responsible for the latest threat to lift it and say so in public.
As Nicola Coleman, the NUJ's Irish organiser, points out: "A free press is fundamental to a democratic society and journalists are enduring threats from both sides of the sectarian divide."As Nicola Coleman, the NUJ's Irish organiser, points out: "A free press is fundamental to a democratic society and journalists are enduring threats from both sides of the sectarian divide."
Prior to the peace process, there were sporadic threats to journalists. Police warned some correspondents that it might be better for them if they made themselves scarce for a while.Prior to the peace process, there were sporadic threats to journalists. Police warned some correspondents that it might be better for them if they made themselves scarce for a while.
One Sunday Times reporter took temporary shelter in England in the late 1980s and, when he returned, he and his family chose to live many miles away from Belfast.One Sunday Times reporter took temporary shelter in England in the late 1980s and, when he returned, he and his family chose to live many miles away from Belfast.
Threats have been issued by both republican and loyalist groups. But it wasn't until 2001, three years after the peace process had kicked in, that a journalist who had previously been threatened was murdered.Threats have been issued by both republican and loyalist groups. But it wasn't until 2001, three years after the peace process had kicked in, that a journalist who had previously been threatened was murdered.
Martin O'Hagan, who worked for the Sunday World, was shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force after he had written a series of articles on drug dealing by loyalist paramilitaries. His killers have never been brought to justice.Martin O'Hagan, who worked for the Sunday World, was shot dead by members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force after he had written a series of articles on drug dealing by loyalist paramilitaries. His killers have never been brought to justice.
Though O'Hagan's murder was a unique occurrence, the Sunday World has been subjected to continual harassment ever since, with its distribution often being disrupted. And other staff - including the editor, Jim McDowell - have been threatened.Though O'Hagan's murder was a unique occurrence, the Sunday World has been subjected to continual harassment ever since, with its distribution often being disrupted. And other staff - including the editor, Jim McDowell - have been threatened.
It is also the case that threats to other journalists have become more common in the past year. Two journalists received death threats in May this year from loyalist paramilitaries. Their identities, as with the most recent case, were not revealed.It is also the case that threats to other journalists have become more common in the past year. Two journalists received death threats in May this year from loyalist paramilitaries. Their identities, as with the most recent case, were not revealed.
In January, during loyalist protests about the union flag being removed from Belfast city hall, police intercepted a letter containing a bullet that was addressed to a reporter.In January, during loyalist protests about the union flag being removed from Belfast city hall, police intercepted a letter containing a bullet that was addressed to a reporter.
In August 2012, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was thought to have been behind a death threat made to another Belfast journalist who was named in graffiti daubed on a wall.In August 2012, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) was thought to have been behind a death threat made to another Belfast journalist who was named in graffiti daubed on a wall.
The latest example distances dissident republicans even further from those republicans who have embraced the peace process, putting them in the same anti-democratic camp as loyalist gangs.The latest example distances dissident republicans even further from those republicans who have embraced the peace process, putting them in the same anti-democratic camp as loyalist gangs.
It is a tribute to the NUJ that it alone appears to be the only body offering public support to threatened journalists while highlighting the pressures they are facing.It is a tribute to the NUJ that it alone appears to be the only body offering public support to threatened journalists while highlighting the pressures they are facing.
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