Journalist seeks to protect sources
Police in Northern Ireland will today go to the High Court in an attempt to force a journalist to surrender information about the Real IRA.
Suzanne Breen, Sunday Tribune northern editor, has been asked to give up phones, computers, discs, notes and other material linked to two articles on the dissident republican paramilitary organisation.
Officers gave her seven days to comply after visiting her Belfast home last week, but the reporter has refused to co-operate, insisting she has to protect her sources.
Police today begin proceedings seeking a High Court order compelling the journalist to hand over the materials.
But Ms Breen said: ‘It is not the job of journalists to be detectives.
‘We will be upholding the journalistic code of ethics, which includes the protecting of sources.’
Police are seeking details about the Real IRA’s claim of responsibility for the murder of two soldiers at the Massereene army barracks in Co Antrim in March and in connection with the killing of Provisional IRA informer Denis Donaldson.
The National Union of Journalists has come out in support of Ms Breen.
But at a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board yesterday, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said the public expected police to pursue all lines of inquiry.
