'No Stone Unturned' journalists in Judicial Review over police raids

by Gráinne Connolly

Two investigative journalists who were arrested in connection with the documentary 'No Stone Unturned' will be in court later, challenging the legality of search warrants issued over the alleged theft of confidential documents from the Police Ombudsman's Office. 

Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey were detained and questioned in August 2018 after creating the film on the 1994 Loughinisland massacre. 

It revealed allegations of police collusion in the loyalist murders of six men.

The pair have not been charged and remain on bail until September 2019. 

The judicial review will focus on the legitimacy of the of the search warrants used by police to carry out raids and seizures. 

Meanwhile, police have pledged not to examine documents and computers seized, pending the outcome of the three day Judicial Review in Belfast.

Both the PSNI and Durham Constabulary are involved in the ongoing criminal investigation. 

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland Programme Director says the case is crucial to the freedom of the press in the UK: 

Mr Corrigan also says the newly elected PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne should be "deeply troubled by the case and the reputational damage it is causing the police force".

"If he is wise, he will draw a line under this affair, apologise to Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney and commit the PSNI to putting the Loughinisland killers, rather than journalists behind bars." 

Michelle Stainstreet, NUJ general secretary said, "Now more than ever we need critical, bold, outstanding investigate journalism that is in the public interest. 

"Democracy is in danger without it. 

"Journalists should never be targeted for simply doing their jobs and for shining a light on human rights abuse in Northern Ireland and crucially the state's complicity in the killing of civilians. 

"The continuing legal threats faced by Trevor Birney and Trevor McCaffrey and the way the search warrants were granted and used can not go unchallenged. 

"This case has huge ramifications for the whole media industry and the NUJ will do everything it can to support those who fight for the truth." 

Members of the NUJ and Amnesty International will gather outside the courts to stand in solidarity with the two journalists. 

They'll meet before the hearing starts at 10.30am.