NUJ takes Suzanne Breen campaign to MPs

The NUJ is urging journalists to write to their MPs in support of Sunday Tribune journalist Suzanne Breen (left) who is fighting court action by police in Northern Ireland to hand over source material linked to her reporting of claims by the Real IRA.
A model letter can be downloaded here.
It says: "Dear MP, I am writing to express my serious concern at the decision by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to push for a court order that would require journalist Suzanne Breen to reveal confidential sources of information.
I am writing to ask you – as my MP – to raise this matter with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
The protection of confidential sources is internationally recognised as one of the basic principles of press freedom. If journalists are forced to disclose source information, whether to the state or other organisations, the very future of investigative journalism could be put at risk.
Journalists must not become an intelligence-gathering tool of the state. Forcing disclosure in this way would undermine the confidence and candour with which sources will talk to journalists, and would damage the ability of the press to hold people in positions of power to account.
I am also particularly concerned to hear that much of this case is being heard in private, without even Suzanne Breen or her legal team being given the opportunity to hear the case being put by the police. This means that Ms Breen will be forced to make her case without even knowing the evidence that has been put by the other side. Such a move seems to go against the very basic principles of justice...
This case raises some very serious concerns about the British government’s commitment to press freedom. I urge you to take action to ensure that the Police Service of Northern Ireland stops this damaging legal action."