The role of the journalist is to hold power to account.
Indeed, without a functioning Fourth Estate democracy is in serious trouble.
Regular readers will already be aware that I have written about the situation of my NUJ branch colleague Trisha Devlin.
If anything the abuse of this fine young journalist has been ramped up recently.
Her work on the Noah Donohoe story has been relentless and exemplary.
However, it is her investigations into the Ulster Loyalist criminal underworld that has brought death threats to her and her young family.
Trisha herself has pointed out that those who would silence journalists actively target female members of the profession for highly gendered abuse.
The brave chaps who threaten a woman and her infant son are products of the same ugly belief system that apparently have a problem with an Irishman representing his country at soccer.
Derryman James McClean has been clear and unequivocal about his reasons for not participating in the annual Poppy porn festival in Britain.
Shamefully, many NGOs with the stated aim of combating racism in sport have been guilty reticent about coming to the aid of this young Irishman.
It is almost as if they have a blind spot to anti-Irish racism.
Almost…
McClean’s wife, Erin posted this on social media.
Of course, this demented subculture is not just confined to the northeast of this country.
The decent folk of Fair Caledonia also have to endure the same historically illiterate left behind uber British underclass.
Sadly, there is no quick fix to this embarrassing social problem in either country.
Rather it will be the relentless and largely thankless task of education that will win through.
A reunified Ireland an independent Scotland will both have to contend with this subculture for generations.
In the meantime, law enforcement has a role to play to protect journalists doing our job.
Trisha Devlin has already made a complaint to the Police Ombudsman about the lack of action by the PSNI over a twelve-month period.
That is also holding power to account and it is what journalists are meant to do.
When that process is stopped the tyrant and his goons breathe a little easier.
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I’ve been following both of these stories (albeit silently). I find it really difficult to comprehend why so called caring people in power do very little to nothing. Just what can we do when they constantly ignore and will not pay heed until someone is killed and even then do only the bare minimum which does nothing but satisfy themselves into thinking that people see they care(less). I actually think they believe that we think they think they’re doing something good and pat themselves on the back for how cleverly they’re conning us all. So angry!!
could it be one of the victims of the IRA that have took offence to James playing the victim card
You support terrorists that have bombed , killed woman and children, then suck it up
A guy that hates Britain but happy to take a wage deserves everything he gets
The British killed millions.
Straw man argument.
James McClean has objected to British State violence in his hometown of Derry.
However, to then imply that ipso facto he “…hates Britain…” is frankly asinine.
Do better.