NUJ renews call for O'Hagan murder review in plea to Benn, Starmer and Harris
Michelle Stanistreet and Séamus Dooley have written to political leaders urging an independent inquiry into the journalist's death.
On the eve of the 23rd anniversary of the murder of Sunday World journalist Martin O'Hagan, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has renewed its call for an independent inquiry into the murder of the NUJ branch secretary and the subsequent investigation into the killing. No one has been successfully prosecuted for his murder by the LVF in Lurgan, Co Armagh on 28th September 2001.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary and Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, have written a joint letter to Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and to political leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, An Taoiseach Simon Harris, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Dooley said:
"For many years the NUJ has marked the anniversary of the vile murder of Martin O'Hagan with calls for an independent investigation. 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.
“Since last year's anniversary we have had a new Northern Ireland Secretary, a new British Prime Minister, a new Taoiseach along with a New First Minister and Deputy First Minister. 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.
“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. The murder of Martin O'Hagan was a watershed moment for journalism in the UK and Ireland. The failure to properly investigate it has cast a long shadow and continues to embolden those who seek to silence journalists."
Text of the letter to Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Saturday next, 28th September marks the 23rd anniversary of the murder of Martin O’Hagan.
As you are no doubt aware Martin was a brave investigative journalist with the Sunday World. He was also secretary of the Belfast and district branch of the NUJ and a valued colleague. He was 51 years of age when he was killed in front of his wife Marie in Lurgan.
The names of his alleged killer have been widely circulated and have appeared in print, including in the Sunday World. Not only is the identity of the subjects known to the PSNI, but there is also compelling evidence of collusion between those who ordered Martin O’Hagan’s murder and members of the security forces.
It has also been claimed that the authorities had warning of the Loyalist Volunteer Force plan to assassinate Martin and could have acted to prevent the murder.
Many family members, colleagues, friends, and journalists who have attempted to cover the story of this murder believe that the killers have been protected from prosecution because of links to the security forces.
The inconclusive PSNI investigations in 2001 and 2007 have done nothing to assuage that belief.
The NUJ has long campaigned for an independent, external investigation into both the murder and the police handing of the case.
The circumstances surrounding the murder and the significance of the murder of a journalist are such that we believe an investigation led by an independent, international body is imperative.
Throughout the Troubles journalists operated under extremely difficult conditions. Martin O’Hagan was forced during his career to work outside Northern Ireland and was subject to threats and intimidation from Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups.
His murder, which happened after the Good Friday Agreement, marked a watershed in Northern Ireland, where no journalist had been murdered during the Troubles.
The fact that no one has been convicted of his murder is an indictment of the security system and gives license to those who target journalists. The unresolved murder of Martin O’Hagan stands alongside a litany of such killings in countries where such heinous crimes have gone unpunished.
In your new role you have already shown a willingness to address historic cases and to look afresh at cases of public importance.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss our request for an independent, external investigation and would ask you to treat this as a matter of extreme importance.
Michelle Stanistreet Séamus Dooley
General Secretary Assistant General Secretary