Breen vows to withhold Real IRA sources
POLICE in the North have made a court bid to force a journalist to hand over information about the Real IRA.
Chief Constable Hugh Orde launched the case after Suzanne Breen, northern editor of the Dublin-published Sunday Tribune, refused to give up materials linked to two articles she wrote about the dissident republican group.
When the case opened before Recorder Tom Burgess in Belfast, counsel for the chief constable, barrister Tony McGleenan, said he was applying for the case to be heard in the absence of the public and the media because of the sensitivity of the information that would be disclosed.
Mr McGleenan said he wanted Ms Breen and her legal representatives to be cleared from the court while a police witness explained to the judge why the case should be heard in camera.
After some legal argument, the judge ordered the court to be cleared while the police witness was sworn in and gave evidence.
The judge said he would rule on Tuesday whether the police application had fallen at the first hurdle, or if it had merit, and then give Ms Breen’s barrister time to mount an argument against the decision.
Ms Breen has refused to comply with police requests made formally to her seven days ago to hand over information including phones and her computer. She is insisting she has to protect her sources.
She received the Real IRA’s claim of responsibility for the murder of two soldiers at the Massereene Barracks in Antrim in March.
Police want details of the claim and an interview with a senior Real IRA representative in which the group admitted murdering Denis Donaldson, the senior Sinn Féin official who was exposed as an MI5 informer.
He was shot dead three years ago at the Co Donegal hideaway where he set up home after being unmasked.
Mr McGleenan told Judge Burgess that the basis for the application for the case to be heard in camera was the continuing investigation into the murder of Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, as they collected pizzas from a delivery man at the front gates of their barracks.
He said: “This is a major investigation now at the seven-week juncture. Some persons are in custody, some persons have been charged, and there may be further persons questioned and charged.”
Paul Girvan, for Ms Breen, said his client was determined to protect her sources and that not to do so could put her life at risk.
“The Real IRA are a terrorist organisation who have made it clear they are a threat to anyone who assists the Crown in any way,” he said.
He added if any evidence of this was needed, it was the wounding of the pizza delivery men in the attack.
He cited her right to life under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. But the judge said it was the balance of rights the court had to deal with.
He said he would hold a review hearing on Tuesday.
Outside the court Ms Breen said: “Protection of sources I will take to the grave”, there is a risk to my own life if I comply with the police”.
