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A PARAMILITARY GROUP in Northern Ireland has denied threatening a Belfast-based journalist who the NUJ yesterday claimed had been subject to death threats.
In a statement seen by the BBC, the loyalist Ulster Defence Association – the largest paramilitary group in the North – said it respected the right of reporters to carry out their work.
The body said it respected “the freedom of the press and the right of all journalists to carry out and pursue their profession free from intimidation or threat”.
Graffiti with the name and number of the journalist – whose identity has not been disclosed – has appeared at various locations around Belfast.
The BBC said the alleged threat had been made by telephone on Saturday evening.
The National Union of Journalists, which revealed the threat yesterday, gave a guarded welcome to the denial.
“We take the death threat against our member very seriously,” NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said.
“The fact that he was named in graffiti along with his mobile phone number on strategically placed locations is a clear indication of the intention – the intimidation of an investigative journalist.”
The union’s Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said the body welcomed the support shown by institutions from across the community in Northern Ireland, and was available to meet with the Ulster Political Research Group to discuss its concerns.
“Threat to workers, whatever role they perform, have no place in a democratic society. Media workers must be allowed to carry out their functions and to ask difficult, probing questions without fear of death threats,” he said.
Dooley added that the threats were a reminder to media employers of their duty to care for and protect their staff.
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I think there is a new movement started in Clare called Independents together which encourages like minded people to have a voice in the running of our country. They are insistent that they are not a political party and nothing to do with Lucinda and co. I believe they have recruited candidates to run in the local elections,which is great , because people don’t know which way to vote now that they have seen the corruption of the last Gover. And the failure of this one to correct it.
What does new political movement actually mean to the person on the street I real terms… No property tax, no water charges, no a and e issues. Will we still have 166 tds on 100k a year plus expenses and advisors etc etc
A lot of these “new politicians” are also teachers with many of the taking a career break to do the honourable thing and return our country back to the people, we have had enough of teachers as they will upon getting elected receive their two pensions …..if they want to get elected resign from being a teacher before you want to be a politician that will endure you more to the people….
I think the word independent in independent td is being diluted
Great. If anyone needs any typesetting done, they know where to go. Do they advise on “photo air brushing ” etc.
Not sure if Donnelly will be involved.
He is already part of the technical group.
So do in this won’t change his impact.
Seems rather pointless TBH
Any vehicle that has Shane Ross and Pat Nulty in it is as attention seeking as it is utterly useless
the independent thought united vision doc is nice and vague, not sure the community orgs they mention are progressive
have your say