WPF is alarmed by harassment of journalists, raises concerns for safety of reporters covering far-right protests

WPF is appalled by the alleged covert surveillance of journalists' and lawyers' phones by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed at the continued failure to charge and prosecute those responsible for threatening award-winning crime reporter Patricia Devlin.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the decision of a Dublin court to penalize the teenage harasser and stalker of BBC News reporter Aileen Moynagh with a two-year probation supervision order.

Suzanne Breen, Belfast Telegraph’s senior journalist, was targeted by vile online abuse after sharing her ten-year-old daughter’s picture on her social media account.

A teenager has pleaded guilty for harassing and stalking BBC journalist Aileen Moynagh. The boy, whose name cannot be revealed due to his minor status, is seventeen years of age and originally from Dublin. He had harassed Aileen digitally as well as physically for several months starting in October 2020, forcing her to leave her place of residence out of security concerns. The boy has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and autism.

Lyra McKee, a 29-year-old writer and prominent investigative journalist, was shot on April 19, 2019, while covering a riot at the Creggan estate. She was taken to the hospital in a police vehicle but was pronounced dead. Police said that a group known as the “New IRA” was likely responsible for the murder. On Wednesday, after two years of investigation, police have arrested four men involved in the murder of Lyra McKee. The CFWIJ welcomes the arrest of the perpetrators and hopes they will be held responsible. Lyra was a talented and courageous journalist committed to social change through her writing.

A police ombudsman upheld a complaint filed by prominent crime reporter Patricia Devlin. The journalist had initiated the case against the Police Service of Northern Ireland for its failure to investigate the online threat against her baby. The police ombudsman concluded the case in Patricia's favour. She said the threat made against the journalist was repulsive and police missed the opportunity to apprehend the suspect. The CFWIJ welcomes the court decision and hopes this will set a new precedent for police to properly investigate the matters that concern women journalists and press freedom.

Award-winning crime reporter Patricia Devlin was again threatened online. Patricia received a very horrific threat against her son via Facebook inbox. The threat mentioned to her son was written as "your baby will suffer very soon from rape very nice". The journalist shared a screenshot on Twitter on May 8 and said, “This is what happens when authorities fail to purpose and hold to account vile creatures using fake accounts to make threats.”

Belfast Telegraph crime reporter Alison Morris and Irish Examiner political correspondent, Aoife Grace Moore have initiated legal action against the former Sunday Independent columnist and ex-senator, Eoghan Harris. The journalist filed for legal action after Mr. Harris revealed himself as one of the operators behind running an anonymous abusive account, “Barbara Pym”. Eoghan admitted last week that he was contributing to the anonymous account which was found to be posting strident and abusive content about the two women journalists. Twitter has suspended the “Barbara Pym” account permanently as well as nine other accounts with linkage to it. Phoenix Law, a law firm based in Belfast is proceeding the legal action on behalf of Aoife Grace Moore and Allison Morris. CFWIJ offers support to both women journalists and stands in solidarity with them. We believe no journalist should ever be subjected to online harassment and threats. Our online spaces need to be safer and free of toxicity. We hope that the legal action would set a precedent against those keyboard warriors who hide behind anonymity.

Patricia Devlin was again targeted on social media after her coverage of the actions of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). This has become a regular occurence. Devlin, who is a crime reporter has faced similar threats in the past, any time she reported on the loyalist groups operating within Ireland. Over the past couple of years, Devlin was targeted with death and rape threats aimed towards herself and her family, and social media doxxing campaigns. Despite the several attempts to engage law enforcement agencies in the matter, Devlin remains vulnerable to such attacks.

Award-winning crime journalist Patricia Devlin is subjected to death and rape threats since 2019. In April 2019, Patricia was targeted with an online troll campaign by members of a mob she had been regularly reporting on. They harassed her with misogynistic slurs and sent out threats of rape. In October 2019, the situation worsened when she received rape threats for her newborn son and became victim to the doxxing campaign which gave out the address of the journalist and named her family members.

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.

A meeting took place between journalist Patricia Devlin and members of the legislative assembly in Ireland to discuss the harrowing threats the journalist has received. Patricia Devlin is a crime journalist who is repeatedly targeted by criminal groups in Ireland due to her work. Recently her name was graffitied on the wall alongside a gun target to intimidate her.

Award-winning journalist Patricia Devlin again received sinister death threats on Friday. A graffiti depicting her name and a gunshot sign was drawn on different locations in east Belfast. The chilling sight of graffiti addressing Patricia is a direct threat to her life.CFWIJ is highly alarmed as this has happened before with Patricia. We demand law enforcement agencies in Belfast to investigate and apprehend whoever is behind such vicious threats.