Journalists say they were under surveillance over sources

Journalists in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have reported experiencing police surveillance as authorities attempt to uncover confidential sources. This issue has gained prominence with high-profile cases in Northern Ireland, but a new report reveals similar tactics are being employed in the Republic.

The report, which interviewed 23 journalists specializing in crime and security or working as generalists, found that some journalists based in the Republic of Ireland confirmed they were placed under surveillance by An Garda Síochána. These journalists cited Garda sources for confirmation. However, not all believed the force possessed the necessary resources for such operations.

In Northern Ireland, all participating journalists felt it was at least possible they had been subjected to surveillance, with several stating they knew or had strong reason to believe it had occurred. One journalist recounted being threatened with arrest for not revealing sources, though the threat was not acted upon. Others reported Gardaí visiting their workplaces to identify sources or requesting notebooks and records. None of the interviewed journalists revealed their sources when pressed.

Dr. Cian Ó Concubhair, an author of the report and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Maynooth University, stressed that this surveillance should concern everyone, not just journalists. He highlighted the vital role of robust, independent media in maintaining a healthy democracy, emphasizing that the protection of confidential sources is paramount for journalists' work. The report also noted that while Irish and UK laws offer some protection for journalistic sources, these rights are not absolute. Proposed legislation like the Garda Powers Bill could potentially further complicate source protection.

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We're a democracy, and at the moment we're, you know, comparatively a healthy democracy. I think over the last 100 years or so, it's been very clear that in order to maintain democratic health, you need robust, independent media, and one of the concerns out of this report is that at this really crucial point, you know, protection of confidential sources, which for a lot of the participants we spoke to said is the most important thing for their work.