Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Investigative platform Noteworthy wins prestigious Mary Raftery Prize

Reporter Peter McGuire won for his investigation that found sexual violence victims were fighting roadblocks to justice.

Noteworthy - Explore the stories that matter to you...

A PROJECT WHICH highlighted the challenges that face survivors of sexual violence when they attempt to officially report their experiences has won the prestigious Mary Raftery Prize.

The prize, for the best of Irish social affairs journalism, was won by Noteworthy, The Journal’s investigative platform and reporter Peter McGuire for the SPEAK OR SURVIVE series.

It was one of two Noteworthy projects to make it onto the shortlist for the 2020 prize (announcement delayed by the pandemic); reporter Niall Sargent was also shortlisted for his REAPING THE HARVEST project on migrant workers in the Irish horticulture sector. 

Announcing the award this afternoon, the judges – Professor Mary Corcoran, Maynooth University, Pat Brennan (formerly of The Sunday Tribune), and Maeve Lewis (One in Four) – described SPEAK OR SURVIVE as “a very balanced, nuanced, blend of personal experience and policy analysis that spoke to the heart of an important matter of public importance”.

Reporter McGuire spent six months gaining the trust and chronicling the experience of over 40 survivors of sexual violence who attempt to secure justice or supports for their trauma. He researched court hearings, enlisted expert analysis – including that of a HSE whistleblower – and secured extensive supporting documentation for his findings.

The result tracks the journey of complainants through a range of institutions, ranging from the gardaí, social and youth services, mental health services through to the legal system.

The series, edited by Susan Daly, uncovered a number of challenges which need to be addressed for survivors to emerge from the trauma of their experiences, including a lack of specific treatment for victims of sexual abuse; institutionalisation of vulnerable people unable to advocate for themselves because of the impact on their mental health of trauma, and waiting lists of over a year for children in need of therapeutic support.

Several of the findings of the investigation aligned with and expanded on recommendations in the O’Malley report into the protection of vulnerable witnesses in sexual offences trials.

Speaking today, reporter McGuire said: “It’s an honour to win a prize bearing Mary Raftery’s name and particularly have been nominated alongside such brilliant journalism from Mick Peelo, Sheila Ahern and Máire Kearney, Noteworthy’s own Niall Sargent, and Dublin Inquirer’s Shamim Malekmian and Laoise Neylon.”

Peter McGuire, Mary Raftery Prize winner with quote - Most of all, our thanks lie with the survivors of abuse who spoke to us. It can be very hard to think about, let alone talk about  sexual crime.

“I was privileged to tell just some of their stories: there were many more than we could do justice to,” added McGuire. 

Another Journal Media project, the “superbly crafted and moving” Stardust podcast by Séan Murray, Nicky Ryan and Christine Bohan of The Journal, won the previous Mary Raftery Prize, for 2019. 

Maria Delaney and Ken Foxe of Noteworthy had also been shortlisted for their collaboration on A Bridge Too Far – a series of articles examining the story of a controversial road scheme that divided Kilkenny city. 

The chair of the judging panel, Dr Mark O’Brien of DCU, said the quality of the entries for the 2020 prize “made choosing an overall winner difficult, and that all the entries indicated a healthy public desire for talking about and resolving significant social issues”.

The other nominees shortlisted beside the two Noteworthy projects were:

The prize is awarded annually to an individual or small team responsible for social affairs journalism produced on the island of Ireland in the calendar year preceding the award which, in the view of the judges, combined the rigorous analysis and commitment to social justice that characterised Mary Raftery’s journalism, and resulted in a significant impact on society.

The prize is funded by a bequest from the Mary Raftery Journalism Fund, is sponsored by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, and is administered by the School of Communications, Dublin City University.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Roche
    Favourite Paul Roche
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 8:45 PM

    The bigger they are, the slower they pay.

    148
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Hooded Biscuit
    Favourite The Hooded Biscuit
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 11:52 PM

    So true, got to the stage with my business where I have refused work from some large businesses who think I should be grateful, not worth it for the pain of constant chasing and chasing.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Mac Eochagáin
    Favourite Ian Mac Eochagáin
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 9:18 PM

    “Payment managers”? Intrum Justitia are debt collectors who use underhand methods (anonymous voicemail messages and hand-delivered notes) to chase up debtors. If everyone started paying their bills on time Intrum would go out of business.

    That’s not exactly true about Finland. Well, maybe the stats are, because people are more disciplined. Here if you forget to pay a bill (which has happened to me once or twice) it takes them a week or two to notice and then they send you a reminder.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimbo
    Favourite Jimbo
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 8:33 PM

    Well that sucks balls.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noble Gas
    Favourite Noble Gas
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 8:50 PM

    We pay after 65 days – contracts says 30. Drives the Germans and French suppliers banana’s

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
    Favourite Crocodylus Pontifex
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 9:04 PM

    Not as bananas as that unnecessary apostrophe is driving me.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joseph Siddall
    Favourite Joseph Siddall
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 9:14 PM

    Noble Gas, …..and you’re proud of that fact ? Suppose your company don’t expect it’s customer to honour payment terms so they can take the p1ss as well. Pathetic excuse for management.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Higgins
    Favourite Kevin Higgins
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 8:45 PM

    Jobs jobs jobs, FG can’t even do that right and it’s all they do. Skew figures

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gaucho Doyle
    Favourite Gaucho Doyle
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 10:21 PM

    Getting paid business to business in sixty days would be good in Ireland. It’s more like 90 to 120, you ask some campanys to pay you after 30 days and they look at you like you have two heads and then come up with any accounting excuse not to pay you. ‘Oh we won’t be doing a cheque run till the end of the month’, ‘One of the directors is away at the moment, so we won’t be able to issue a cheque till he’s back’ bla bla bla Then why do you order these goods and services!!!!!!!!!

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Happy Go Lucky
    Favourite Happy Go Lucky
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 10:45 PM

    You forgot the cheque is in the post…

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute blah!
    Favourite blah!
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 9:07 PM

    Ok maybe I’m missing something, the article, in paragraph two, refers to “unpaid bills”, then further on states that for business to business, payments are made around 29 days with 14 days the norm for public sector payments. Prompt payment legislation, as far as I know, requires payment to be made within 30 days from receipt of invoice. These are not “unpaid bills” or “late or non-payment of debt”. Maybe 30 days is too long in our digital age but at least call it what it is. On time, legislatively compliant payments. Or perhaps the problem is elsewhere, lack of credit to cover the 30 day period. That would be the banks again….

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Mac
    Favourite Dave Mac
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 9:48 PM

    Intrum justicas sales manager!!

    He just let slip that you don’t have to pay them!

    Idiot!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon O'Keeffe
    Favourite Simon O'Keeffe
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 9:34 PM

    Doh! What do they think jobsbridge was created for.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Linehan
    Favourite Patrick Linehan
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 10:47 PM

    It’s called the Tragic Roundabout. I can’t pay A because I haven’t been paid by B who’s owed money by C.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Saputo
    Favourite Lisa Saputo
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 11:55 PM

    Are debt collectors called payment managers now?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christopher O Callaghan
    Favourite Christopher O Callaghan
    Report
    May 18th 2014, 1:16 AM

    Payment managers/credit controllers/credit management advisors etc

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christopher O Callaghan
    Favourite Christopher O Callaghan
    Report
    May 18th 2014, 1:16 AM

    Payment managers/credit controllers/credit management advisors etc

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GATHERINGYOURMONEY14
    Favourite GATHERINGYOURMONEY14
    Report
    May 12th 2014, 11:38 PM

    The bust shmall chounthry ta doo bwisnish in.
    Because you don’t have to pay your suppliers.

    8
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds