Like many journalists, I am haunted by the tyranny of the deadline. Take yesterday, when I sat down to reflect on the first anniversary of the death of my 29 year old close friend, journalistic colleague and fellow National Union of Journalists Belfast & District member, Lyra McKee. Lyra and I often took solace in…
We’ve seen a rush of recent panic and hysteria about the possibility, likelihood or other about a coronavirus epidemic.But before we hurtle headlong into a cycle of hysteria, stockpiling essentials and self isolation, step back. Of course we should all take advice of the best, most sensible up to date advice. But don’t forget, that…
The overnight snow had frozen on my windscreen when I left home at dawn on Thursday 12 March 2019.This was originally published in ‘Peace Journalism’ 1 April 2020 As I drove through Derry, I passed the spot where almost a year ago my friend, colleague, and fellow member of the National Union of Journalists, Lyra…
I’m a journalist, a freelance, self-employed, a caregiver in multiple roles, and a woman. And I am very, very proud to say, I am a Union woman. And as the song in the link above says: We are many thousand strong,And I am glad to sayWe are getting strongerAnd stronger every day. Every day I have…
Catherine Ferrin, team leader for Outreach Services for Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid, talks to journalist Kathryn Johnston about her role in helping women who are suffering domestic violence.“Remember years ago when people wore rubber bands with ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ written on them? A woman suffering domestic violence has an invisible rubber band on…
Last Sunday, 13th May 2018, members of DiEM25 met in Belfast. That same day, eleven women, from both sides of the Irish border, travelled to England and Wales for an abortion that would have been illegal in Ireland. There was nothing unusual in that. It is an everyday occurrence. In 2016 just under 4,000 women…
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has refused an author’s request to view Garda security logs of Northern Ireland-registered cars which travelled between Belfast and Classiebawn Castle in Co Sligo, the late Earl Mountbatten’s summer home.Andrew Lownie, author of The Mountbattens: Their Lives And Loves, has told the Belfast Telegraph that Mr Harris, a former senior PSNI…
The Cold Case Detectives by Lyra McKee Lyra McKee is a freelance journalist and writer Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. So does this one. It can be summarised as a bullet, a bullet, and a bullet.This was Lyra McKee’s foreword to a collection of essays called ‘Paper Trailers’ – a…
Conference explores human rights and journalism If Friday’s session “Human Rights and Journalism” proved nothing else, it confirmed the deficits among media both here and abroad, particularly when it comes to reporting women and minority groups.The Friday discussion was part of the three-day Greater Kansas City Peacebuilding Conference. The theme this year was “Human Rights:…
HIA abuse compensation dead in a ditchBoris Johnson made a commitment in the Queen’s Speech to introduce legislation to provide compensation for Northern Ireland’s Historical Institutional Abuse victims. Now Jacob Rees-Mogg says there may not be time before Parliament is dissolved on Monday. Kincora victims were recently told they would have to wait 66 years…
