The ruling today that Suzanne Breen will not have to hand over her notes to the Police Service of Northern Ireland has rightly been hailed by the NUJ as a “landmark victory for journalism and civil liberties”.

At Belfast recorders court, Judge Thomas Burgess refused an application by the PSNI, which would have forced Suzanne, northern editor of the Sunday Tribune in Dublin, to hand over notes, computer equipment and other material relating to the Real IRA.

Speaking outside the court, Suzanne told reporters she believed the judge went further than any other judge in recognising the protection of sources and respecting journalism.

Backed by NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley and NUJ Left activist Eamonn McCann, she paid tribute to her legal team, her newspaper and the union, and said a “resounding thank you” to the thousands of journalists in Ireland and Britain who supported her and those who testified on her behalf.

In his judgment, Judge Burgess concluded that “the concept of confidentiality for journalists protecting their sources is recognised in law”. He also said that requiring Suzanne to hand over the material would be a breach of her right to life under the European Convention on Human Rights.

NUJ Left activists were instrumental in organising public support and demonstrations around the case and we pay tribute to Suzanne for her resolute defence against the order, and also thank all those involved in the campaign.

In a statement on the NUJ website, NUJ president James Doherty says Suzanne and her editor, Noirin Hegarty, “proudly stood by the NUJ code of conduct”.

“This is a victory not only for Suzanne, but for all journalists and the right to do our job free from fear or coercion,” James adds. “The Fourth Estate should never become a lapdog for a police state.”

Posted by NUJ Left

Tags: code of conduct, journalism, National Union of Journalists, NUJ, NUJ Left, press freedom, protection of sources, Suzanne Breen