Northern Ireland: CFWIJ welcomes the progress in the investigation of the threats against Patricia Devlin

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February 20, 2021, Belfast: A meeting took place between journalist Patricia Devlin and members of the legislative assembly in Ireland to discuss the harrowing threats the journalist has received. Patricia Devlin is a crime journalist who is repeatedly targeted by criminal groups in Ireland due to her work. Recently her name was graffitied on the wall alongside a gun target to intimidate her. 

MLA Patsy McGlone tweeted about the meeting he had with journalist Patricia Devlin on February 19 to discuss the risks Patricia faces. Patricia has been on the receiving end of vicious threats from active criminal groups in Ireland since 2019. The meeting was arranged by MLA Matthew O’Toole through the All-Party Groups forum. McGlone mentioned in the tweet that the issue will be raised at a senior level with the police, and referred to these targeted attacks on Patricia as “threats by fascists to free speech”.

Since 2019, Patricia has been targeted with death threats, online troll attacks, and even rape threats directed towards her son. In the past, Patricia reached out to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) regarding these attacks, and even filed a complaint with the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman upon the lack of police action. However, despite all her efforts, she was not provided with a satisfactory response. Things took a sinister turn on February 12, when her name was found graffitied on the walls along with a gunshot target. The incident again brought to light the very serious risks that Patricia faces in her line of work and the urgent need to address her security situation.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is glad to see that the political leadership has stepped up this time and plans on pursuing this situation. Journalists are an important part of any democracy, and how authorities respond to the threats to any of them is indicative of how seriously it takes the security of the journalist community in the country. The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the development.