Northern Ireland: The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls upon PNSI and the UK authorities to investigate the threats to Patricia Devlin, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
February 16, 2021 - Award-winning crime journalist Patricia Devlin is subjected to death and rape threats since 2019. In April 2019, Patricia was targeted with an online troll campaign by members of a mob she had been regularly reporting on. They harassed her with misogynistic slurs and sent out threats of rape. In October 2019, the situation worsened when she received rape threats for her newborn son and became victim to the doxxing campaign which gave out the address of the journalist and named her family members.
In October 2020, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland, sent a death threat to Patricia on her social media. When Patricia reported the threat to Facebook, the platform responded that it did not breach any safety standards, and thus will not be removed. Later, Patricia’s colleague received a threat of an “imminent attack” at the Sunday World and it appeared that threat originated from the same paramilitary group that targeted Patricia.
Patricia informed the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of the threats she had been receiving, however, she received no response. In November 2020, Patricia filed a complaint with the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman for PSNI's failure to investigate the threats. Patricia also requested the Scottish Police for their assistance in the case. Despite all the efforts from her end, Patricia was not informed of any developments regarding the case.
On February 12, 2021, Patricia’s name was depicted on graffiti alongside a gunshot target. This was the latest in a series of sinister attempts to threaten Patricia into silence.
Over the past few years, crime has steadily risen in Northern Ireland, creating an environment of fear and violence in the region. Journalist Allison Morris received a similar threat on February 19, 2021, while journalist Leona O'Neill received one last year. It is also important to remind ourselves of Lyra McKee, a freelance reporter who was killed in April 2019. To make matters worse, hateful graffiti targeting her showed up on the walls of Derry on February 22, 2021, in an attempt to disrespect her memory. The publishers of three Belfast-based newspapers and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) also issued a statement in order to bring attention to the threats that the journalist community was facing.
A free and unthreatened media is an important facet of a stable, democratic society. Women journalists become especially vulnerable whenever the journalistic community faces such risks in a country, due to the gendered nature of the attacks they can be targeted with.
We urge the UK government and the Police Service of Northern Ireland to urgently address Patricia’s security concerns and assure her safety by arresting the perpetrators of the threats against her and bringing them to justice.
Signatories:
Kiran Nazish, Founding Director at CFWIJ
Ceren İskit, Research Coordinator at CFWIJ
Katia Mierzejewska, Engagement Coordinator at CFWIJ
Ayesha Khalid, Research Coordinator at CFWIJ
Aimun Faisal, Research Coordinator at CFWIJ
Damla Tarhan, MENA Coordinator at CFWIJ
Francis Hughes, Journalist, Author, Activist
Philip Brown, Journalist
Bob Miller, Journalist
Leona O'Neill, Journalist
Aodhán Roberts, Freelance Filmmaker, Photographer, Practising Journalist
Bimpe Archer, Journalist
Margaux Ewen, Executive Director, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation
Suzanne Breen, Political Editor, Belfast Telegraph
Grace O'Malley, Blogger
Julie Gilmour, Councillor
Judith McNeill, Councillor
Jilly Beattie, Journalist
Grace Bunting, Blogger
Brendan Harkin, Legal Analyst
Paul McKenna, News, Digital media production
Liam Wilson, Manager
Brenda Donnelly, Lawyer
Thımas Elliott, Artist
Jonathan McKerr, Artist
Dr Michael Pierse, Academic
Ciarán Arthurs, Project Manager
John Devitt, Chief Executive
Charmaine Kelly, Staff Nurse
Katie Pritchard, IT Support
Alison Park, Work planner
Seamus Watson, Quality Engineer
Eileen Crawford, Administration
Ann Travers , Advocacy worker
Culann McLaughlin, Telecoms
Karl Lynagh, Manager
Tommy Maguire, Manager
Aidan Jones, Manager
Conor McKinney, Ecologist
Shaun Cassidy
Denis Cairns
Andrena McBrearty
Vincent Canning
Ruaidhri McAleenan, Carer
Paddy Trainor, Voluntary Sector
Philip Campbell, Cabler
McLaughlin, Domestic Assistant
Deirdre Taylor, Retired nurse
Henry Monaghan, School Janitor
David Keeley, Developer
Dillon Lesley Ann, Carer
Bill Maher, Retired
Barry McDonald, Engineer
Neil Sheridan, Labourer
Stephen Coulter, Logistics operator
John Mcguigan, Self-employed
Paul Davis, Retired
Joseph McElgunn, Self-employed
Harriett Moore-Boyd, Textile designer & maker
Claire Maxwell, Fire and Security Engineer
Fiona Roberts, Teacher
Claire Coyle, Legal Secretary
Stephen Drew, Computer Programmer
Gregory O'Neill, House husband
Christine Mcveigh, Customer Assistant
Rosemary Mcgreevy
Sean Osborne, Support Worker
Joe Hayes, Manager
Eamon Melia, Carpenter
Rorie Smyth, Civil Servant
Tony Megahey, IT Manager
Danny Walsh, Electrician
Gary Russell, Unemployed
Sean Quinn, Farmer
Jeden Walsh, Graphic Designer
Christine O'Mahony, Student
Alan Freeman, Unemployed
Brian Osborne, Clinical sales specialist
Aobh Sharvin, Student
Teresa Ginley, Recruitment consultant
Alex McGuigan, Instructor
William Gordon, Retired
Orla Doran, Accountant
Sean Mulholland, Chef
Brian Guiney
Neil Templeton, Company Director
Derek Magill, Civil Servant
Deirdre Rafferty
Anthony McGonnell, Retired teacher
Kim McMahon, Self Employed
Clare McClure, Project manager
Rosà Paola, OBC Transeuropa
Michael O'Kane, Postman
Maureen McCormick, Retail
Dillan Blackwood, Supervisor
John Carland, Plant Operator
Nicola George, Carer
Henry Brian Shaw, Home Worker
Maria Duddy, Therapist
Frank O'Neill, Worker
Chris Jordan, Tech Sales
Alan O'Connor, Electrician
Deborah Faulkner, Customs coordinator
Conor Mc Ginley, Taxi driver
Kelly McAuley, Retired
Gary Reid, Self-employed
Sean McGreevy, Musician
Finnan Lane, Civil Servant
Mark Reel, IT Professional
Stephen Yathindran, Postal Worker
Sean Brolly, Ambulance service
Mark Gourley, Leadership & Learning Manager
Gareth McCord, Retired
Chris Devine
Zach Robinson
Louise Deery, Retired
Suzanne McLaren, Call centre agent
Eugene Doherty, Bus Driver
Martin McGeown, Finance Officer
Jeremiah Keogh, Artist
Liam Donnan, Retired
Anton Boyce, Electrician
James McCann, Care Worker
Paul McVeigh, Officer
Joseph Graham, Student
Aidan Daly
John Maguire, Taxi Driver
Dan Brown, Taxi driver
Shari Moko
Leanne Dmyterko, Communications Manager
Susan McKay, Journalist
Linda Stewart, Journalist
M. Haytham Matthews, Unemployed