Support for Suzanne Breen's sources fight

International support is growing for Sunday Tribune Northern Ireland editor Suzanne Breen who is resisting court moves to make her hand over source material after she reported claims by the Real IRA.
Aidan White, general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists has raised the case at a conference on freedom expression organised by the Council of Europe.
He said: “Legal intimidation of reporters to reveal their sources threatens the lives of investigative journalists as well as encouraging a culture of secrecy. The case of Suzanne Breen in Ireland, a distinguished journalist supported by colleagues either side of a troubled border, is just the latest example of a reporter under fire in the courts because of her revealing journalism about paramilitary groups.
“If she is forced to comply, journalistic scrutiny will be sacrificed, democracy will suffer and she will be put in harm's way."
The NUJ and Sunday Tribune has launched a campaign in the Republic of Ireland in defence of Breen’s right to protect her confidential sources of information.
Sunday Tribune editor Noirin Hegarty said: “If you think that press freedom is important and that it matters that journalists can do their jobs without fear or persecution, you need to stand with us. We are the observers and the outsiders and we will be vigorous in our defence of our right to keep our sources confidential.
“We will be vigorous in our protection of this journalist’s life. To do anything else would not just be a betrayal of Suzanne Breen’s journalistic bravery, but a betrayal of journalism itself.”
NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley said: “The decision by the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) to seek a sweeping order of this magnitude; the fact that evidence was given by the PSNI in private; the grim determination of the PSNI to pursue the case against Suzanne Breen and the Sunday Tribune must alarm not just every journalist in Ireland, North and South but everyone who cares about preserving a free, unfettered media.”

Below: Suzanne Breen in London on Tuesday talking about being raided by police.


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