NUJ asks Minister Doherty to clarify role in Tweet investigation

The National Union of Journalists has called on the Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, to clarify her role in the decision of members of An Garda Síochána to interview a freelance blogger and academic about comments written by the blogger about Ms Doherty.

Acting General Secretary of the NUJ in UK and Ireland, Séamus Dooley, also called on the Garda Commissioner to urgently clarify the circumstances in which Catherine Kelly was approached by Gardai from Pearse Street Garda Station and interviewed about tweets which it is understood referred to Ms Doherty. He was responding to a report on thejournal.ie.

Séamus Dooley said: “Freedom of expression is a core value in democracy and we would be concerned if a cabinet member or TD were to act in a way which sought to undermine that right. It is open to all citizens, including public representatives to defend their reputation through defamation proceedings and to use due judicial process, as appropriate. In my experience it is highly unusual for An Garda Síochána to become involved in cases of this type and we need urgent clarification of what has happened in this case. Viewed against the backdrop of threats of new contempt laws this development is deeply worrying.”