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Real IRA sources case to resume | Real IRA sources case to resume |
(29 minutes later) | |
A Northern Ireland journalist will try to convince a judge that she should not be forced to give the police her notes linked to stories about the Real IRA. | |
Suzanne Breen, the northern editor of the Sunday Tribune, will appear at Belfast's High Court on Thursday. | |
She received the Real IRA's claim of responsibility for the murder of two soldiers in March and interviewed a representative of the group. | |
The police say they need the notes as part of the murder inquiry. | |
Ms Breen has refused to comply with the request, saying her life could be in danger and she must protect sources. | |
In May a judge said he was "minded" to grant the police application to force the journalist to hand over the material. | |
However, he said his view could change once he heard arguments from her legal team. | |
Media commentator Roy Greenslade is to give evidence in her defence. | Media commentator Roy Greenslade is to give evidence in her defence. |
Writing in the London Evening Standard he said journalists should not break confidentiality agreements. | Writing in the London Evening Standard he said journalists should not break confidentiality agreements. |
"Too often, the police seek to use us as informers, which is wrong in principle and in practice," he wrote. | "Too often, the police seek to use us as informers, which is wrong in principle and in practice," he wrote. |
"Their job is detection. Ours is exposure. These can be mutually beneficial, but when it comes to the crunch, journalists have a duty to keep their sources to themselves." | "Their job is detection. Ours is exposure. These can be mutually beneficial, but when it comes to the crunch, journalists have a duty to keep their sources to themselves." |
Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead as they collected pizzas outside their barracks in Antrim on 7 March. | Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead as they collected pizzas outside their barracks in Antrim on 7 March. |
Police have said they would use all possible legal means "to access information which may assist their inquiries". | Police have said they would use all possible legal means "to access information which may assist their inquiries". |
John Ware of the BBC's Panorama, Alex Thomson of Channel 4 and the Sunday Times's Liam Clarke have also been asked to give evidence on the journalist's behalf. | John Ware of the BBC's Panorama, Alex Thomson of Channel 4 and the Sunday Times's Liam Clarke have also been asked to give evidence on the journalist's behalf. |
Journalist John Pilger, actor Stephen Rea and author Roddy Doyle are among 5,000 people who have signed a National Union of Journalists petition backing Ms Breen. | Journalist John Pilger, actor Stephen Rea and author Roddy Doyle are among 5,000 people who have signed a National Union of Journalists petition backing Ms Breen. |
Amnesty International has written to the Northern Ireland Secretary of State expressing "serious concerns" about the case. | Amnesty International has written to the Northern Ireland Secretary of State expressing "serious concerns" about the case. |