Skip to content
  • Common Currency
  • Campaigns
    • PENWrites
    • Writers at Risk
    • Writers in Residence
    • Free speech in the UK
  • News
  • Events
  • Translation
    • PEN Translates
    • PEN Transmissions
    • International Translation Day
    • The World Bookshelf
      • Books
      • Authors
      • Translators
    • PEN Presents
      • Issues
      • Books
      • Apply to PEN Presents
  • Prizes
    • PEN Pinter Prize
    • PEN Ackerley Prize
    • PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize
  • Donate
  • Join
Home > News > Northern Ireland: investigative journalists arrested

Northern Ireland: investigative journalists arrested

On 31 August 2018,  two investigative journalists, Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, were arrested by officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. They are being investigated for handling confidential documents during the course of producing the documentary ‘No Stone Unturned’ about the 1994 Loughinisland massacre.

English PEN is deeply concerned by these arrests. The protection of confidential sources is part of the right to freedom of expression, and the media should not be discouraged from carrying out public interest journalism. In addition, as English PEN’s Communications Manager wrote in a recent article for the New Statesman, such harassment of journalists sets a terrible international example. How can the Foreign Secretary credibly protest the jailing of journalists in Myanmar, when our own police force is using similar laws to chill free speech in the UK?

We will be following this case closely. In the meantime, our colleagues at the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have launched a petition and will be organising a solidarity protest outside the High Court in Belfast at 9,30am on Friday, 7 September. Please sign and share the petition and join the protest if you can.

Thursday 6th
September 2018

Share

1Barry McCaffrey1Belfast1High Court1investigative journalists1journalist1Loughinisland massacre1National Union of Journalists1No Stone Unturned1Northern ireland1NUJ1Trevor Birney

Join our mailing list

Sign up to receive the latest English PEN news and events.

SIGN UP
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Partners
  • Outreach
  • Jobs
  • Contact us

With thanks to our Core Funders

©1921 - 2023

English PEN is a company limited by guarantee number 5747142 (England & Wales) and a registered charity, number 1125610.

We use cookies to help us improve your experience on our website. By closing this notification or interacting with the website you agree to our use of cookies. ACCEPT Find out more
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT