Select Committee · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
The surveillance of journalists and press freedoms in NI
Status: Open
Opened: 15 Jan 2025
Inquiry scope
This session will look consider concerns around surveillance of journalists, including the recent judgment of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, as well as wider concerns over the use of SLAPPs, libel law in Northern Ireland and journalist intimidation.Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb 2025 | Allison Morris, Crime Correspondent, Belfast Telegraph, Barry McCaffrey, Journalist, Malachi O'Doherty, Journalist and author, Paul Tweed, Senior Partner, WP Tweed & Co, Séamus Dooley, Assistant General Secretary, National Union of Journalists, Trevor Birney, Producer and Journalist | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Allison Morris, Crime Correspondent, Belfast Telegraph | — | 1 |
| Barry McCaffrey, Journalist | — | 1 |
| Malachi O'Doherty, Journalist and author | — | 1 |
| Paul Tweed, Senior Partner, WP Tweed & Co | — | 1 |
| Séamus Dooley, Assistant General Secretary, National Union of Journalists | — | 1 |
| Trevor Birney, Producer and Journalist | — | 1 |
Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 2025 | — | Correspondence from the Home Office regarding the journalist, Vincent Kearney’s, Investigatory Powers tribunal case, dated 10 September 2025. |