Northern Ireland: CFWIJ Is Alarmed Over Death Threats To Allison Morris

Location: Northern Ireland
Date: February 20, 2021

Award-winning journalist, Allison Morris, a security correspondent and columnist for The Irish News was targeted with death threats. A graffiti targeting Allison as an MI5 agent along with a crosshair was drawn in North Belfast on Thursday. Allison has received threats from paramilitary forces in the past as well. CFWIJ is alarmed by this pattern of threatening graffiti in Northern Ireland. We urge law enforcement forces in Northern Ireland to investigate this series of threats and apprehend the criminals behind it.

Allison Morris shared about the threatening graffiti on her Twitter account saying, “If anyone knows an Alison Morris tell her that her name is on a wall in Rosapenna Street - state of that wouldn’t you be scundered #idiots.” Reportedly, the graffiti was drawn over the night in North Belfast. The journalist has shared about receiving death threats for her life in the past as well.

If anyone knows an Alison Moris tell her that her name is on a wall in Rosapenna Street - state of that wouldn’t you be scundered #idiots pic.twitter.com/xg0OQoHAfW

— Allison Morris (@AllisonMorris1) February 19, 2021

The grave death threats against Allison Morris are widely being condemned. The Irish News editor Noel Doran said, “We condemn the attempt to intimidate our colleague Allison Morris which will not succeed, and we stand with Allison and all other journalists who have faced similarly despicable threats.” Deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill also shared her concerns on Twitter, “ I see that more hate-filled graffiti has been sprayed on walls targeting another female journalist. If only these brave misogynistic artists had an ounce of the courage of

 @AllisonMorris1 & @trishdevlin and every other woman going about her job.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism also recorded the same sort of threat targeting Patricia Devlin. Threatening graffitis targeting Patricia had appeared in East Belfast at different locations. Unfortunately, no arrests were made and the perpetrators are still free at large intimidating other journalists.

CFWIJ strongly urges the Police Service of Northern Ireland to understand the severity of these threats and apprehend the culprits behind them. We stand in solidarity with Allison Morris and offer our full support. We hope PSNI will take substantial measures to catch the culprit for the safety of journalists.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.