British Govt pressed by NUJ for inquiry into killing of leading investigative journalist Martin O’Hagan, in 2001

Rebecca Black, Irish News, September 28th, 2024

THE government has been pressed to hold an independent inquiry into the murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan.

Mr O’Hagan was killed by loyalist paramilitaries in Lurgan, Co Armagh in 2001. Noone has ever been successfully prosecuted for his murder.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary Michelle Stanistreet and assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley have written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Secretary of State Hilary Benn, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Taoiseach Simon Harris calling for an independent inquiry into the killing. Mr Dooley said there are many unanswered questions and issues to be resolved around the murder.

“For many years the NUJ has marked the anniversary of the vile murder of Martin O’Hagan with calls for an independent investigation,” he said.

“Polite acknowledgements have not been followed up by action but we continue to demand an external investigation into the murder and the failure to properly investigate it.

“There are so many unanswered questions, so many issues which remain unresolved, despite the fact that the identity of those suspected of ordering and carrying out the assassination of Martin O’Hagan is well known, with names being published in the media with impunity.

“In that context, we are seeking support for a new investigation, led by an international figure and independent of those who have so far failed to properly investigate the murder.”

He added: “The strong suspicion of collusion with the security forces and the suggestion that the PSNI may have had prior knowledge of the plan to murder Martin O’Hagan must be thoroughly interrogated.”

Amnesty International’s Patrick Corrigan said Mr O’Hagan’s killing was “designed to send a clear message to journalists in Northern Ireland that they are not safe”.

“It is simply unacceptable that, in the 23 years since Martin O’Hagan was shot dead, not a single person has been held accountable,” added Mr Corrigan.

“This failure has created an environment of impunity for those who continue to threaten journalists in Northern Ireland today.”