Fulton v Sunday World injunction application dismissed

Following Conway v Sunday World, another gagging case has made the headlines with Fulton v Sunday World. This case involved an application by member of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) to stop the Sunday World from continuing to report his alleged links with the UVF. In the High Court Gillen J dismissed the application.

Like Conway, Fulton's lawyers argued that a relentless series of articles about him have put his life at increased risk from dissident republicans. News Letter reports in full here.

Northern Ireland journalists are working in a climate of intimidation

Journalists are working under a climate of threats and intimidation. Allison Morris of the Irish News had to be escorted from court by security guards. She received serious abuse from a gang of protesters when she was called a "Fenian bastard" and a "Fenian cunt". The demonstrators also threatened to cut her throat. The Guardian reported here. The National Union of Journalists reported here. NUJ president Barry McCall said:

"The media must be free to report on the courts without fear of violence or intimidation. Any attempt to undermine that right is an attempt to undermine the principles which underpin the judicial system."

On St Patrick’s Day 2014 a freelance photographer was assaulted on leaving a function at Belfast City Hall hosted by the Lord Mayor. They gang told him they knew which gym he went to and accused him of working for Sinn Féin, of being a dissident and subjected him to sectarian abuse. In June 2013 the PSNI informed a journalist that dissident republicans had issued a death threat against them.

Investigative journalism threatened by oppressive libel laws

In an article in the Belfast Telegraph, 'The pressing dangers facing investigative journalism' here, Paul Connolly said:

"A toxic cocktail of declining budgets, oppressive libel laws, especially in Northern Ireland and the Republic, and fragmentation/disruption of audiences are all combining to undermine the fine UK and Irish tradition of investigative reporting. Not necessarily fatally, but there are undoubted pressures."

On January 23 2014 the BBC hosted, 'Investigative Journalism: Present and Future,' an event that explored the role and value of investigative journalism. Paul Connolly said of the event, and again noted the effect of libel law:

"Much debate centred on the nature of the threat to investigative reporting by crumbling media business models and the chilling effect of regulation and libel.

Paul Connolly in full here.