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Police 'demand Real IRA sources' | Police 'demand Real IRA sources' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A journalist has said she has been threatened with legal action if she does not reveal Real IRA information sources. | A journalist has said she has been threatened with legal action if she does not reveal Real IRA information sources. |
Suzanne Breen, Sunday Tribune northern editor, received the Real IRA's claim of responsibility for the murder of two soldiers at Massereene base in March. | Suzanne Breen, Sunday Tribune northern editor, received the Real IRA's claim of responsibility for the murder of two soldiers at Massereene base in March. |
She said she would not comply with police demands to reveal her contacts. | She said she would not comply with police demands to reveal her contacts. |
Police said they would use all possible legal means "to access information which may assist their inquiries". | Police said they would use all possible legal means "to access information which may assist their inquiries". |
Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead as they collected pizzas outside Massereene barracks in Antrim on March 7. | Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead as they collected pizzas outside Massereene barracks in Antrim on March 7. |
Ms Breen said police visited her in Belfast last week over the claim of responsibility for the soldiers' murders and an interview with a senior Real IRA representative in which the group admitted killing Provisional IRA informer Denis Donaldson and threatened to murder more soldiers and police. | Ms Breen said police visited her in Belfast last week over the claim of responsibility for the soldiers' murders and an interview with a senior Real IRA representative in which the group admitted killing Provisional IRA informer Denis Donaldson and threatened to murder more soldiers and police. |
Sources | Sources |
In today's Sunday Tribune she wrote: "I won't be complying with the PSNI's demands. | In today's Sunday Tribune she wrote: "I won't be complying with the PSNI's demands. |
"Compromising sources undermines the freedom of the press. Journalists and police do different jobs. | "Compromising sources undermines the freedom of the press. Journalists and police do different jobs. |
"Our role is to put information into the public domain. If a journalist becomes a gatherer of evidence or a witness for the state, they cease being a journalist." | "Our role is to put information into the public domain. If a journalist becomes a gatherer of evidence or a witness for the state, they cease being a journalist." |
She said she was given seven days to hand over information. | She said she was given seven days to hand over information. |
Jeremy Dear of the National Union of Journalists said the union would "stand firm" with Ms Breen. | |
"The right of journalists to protect their sources is a fundamental press freedom and must be respected," he said. | |
"The authorities must recognise the special nature of journalistic material and respect Suzanne Breen's right to keep her sources confidential." | |
A police spokesman said: "The investigation into this atrocity is active and ongoing. Police will use every possible legal means to access information which may assist their inquiries. | A police spokesman said: "The investigation into this atrocity is active and ongoing. Police will use every possible legal means to access information which may assist their inquiries. |
"All victims of the Massereene attack, their families and the community expect and deserve nothing less." | "All victims of the Massereene attack, their families and the community expect and deserve nothing less." |
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