THE threats against Sunday World journalist Patricia Devlin have been condemned by Sinéad McLaughlin, secretary of the Assembly’s All Party Group on Press Freedom and Media Sustainability.
Graffiti has appeared in a number of locations in east Belfast with the name of award-winning reporter mum of three Ms Devlin along with cross hairs.
Said the Foyle MLA: “I am confident that I speak on behalf of all MLAs when I say the latest threats against a working journalist are totally unacceptable and are an attack on the functioning of democracy.
“A free press is fundamental to a free society. It is essential that politicians demonstrate their solidarity with journalists, especially when those journalists are exposing the murky world of criminal gangs and drug dealing.
“Paramilitaries have no place in our society, nor have threats to journalists. The increase over recent months of threats against the media is another indication of the difficult times we are in.
“It is essential that the PSNI takes effective action against those issuing threats, whether by graffiti, post or social media.
“As a female politician I am also extremely concerned at the targeting of women journalists, which adds another upsetting dimension to the criminal actions of these gangs.
“They have no credibility in our society and must be eradicated.
“The All Party Group on Press Freedom and Media Sustainability was established in part in response to the rise in threats against journalists and is supported by MLAs from across the Assembly.
“We are united against those who seek to undermine the ability of the media to shine a light on the criminal underworld.”
The threats against Ms Devlin has also been condmened by Justice Minister Naomi Long and the National Union of Journalists.
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