Tag Archives: Gemma O’Doherty

gemmaThe sacking of Irish Independent journalist Gemma O’Doherty (right) prompted Labour Senator John Gilroy to say the following on Wednesday:

“I seek a debate on the freedom of the press in light of disturbing reports I have heard in respect of the sacking in recent weeks of an award-winning investigative journalist, Gemma O’Doherty. Some of her work has been raised on the floor of this House. This case has been reported extensively in international media and social media but it does not seem to have generated any traction in our domestic media. When any journalist is sacked it is noteworthy, but when an investigative journalist of Ms O’Doherty’s standing is sacked this must raise great concerns for all democrats. I hope the Leader may arrange, at his earliest convenience, a debate in general terms on the freedom of the press.”

Mr Gilroy’s call was supported by several senators,

Jim Walsh, of Fianna Fáil, said:

“I agree with what Senator Gilroy said about the sacking of Ms Gemma O’Doherty. Many people have come to me in recent months, since the House went into recess, who told me about their difficulties in getting their points of view and their letters into some newspapers because of the particular perspective those papers took on the abortion Bill. That does not serve democracy. Within our media there is self-censorship. If this came about via the Executive or if the State were to impose such censorship, there would be considerable objection and hostility.”

Martin Conway, of Fine Gael, said:

“I was also deeply disturbed to hear about the sacking of Ms Gemma O’Doherty. I was not aware of it. I know her and know her to be a very fine, capable, passionate and determined journalist. I am sure she will have no problem picking up alternative employment with another publication. I would like to know more about how the sacking happened and the reasons for it. She certainly drove the Fr. Niall Molloy case in recent times, an injustice of which we are all aware.”

Labour’s John Kelly said:

“I compliment Ms Gemma O’Doherty on her great work in the Fr. Niall Molloy case. She took it from nothing to being fairly and squarely on the desk of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who promised before the last election an independent commission of inquiry into the death of Fr. Molloy after everything else had been addressed. The cold case investigation has been concluded, the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, has made a ruling and the matter is now with the Minister. Given the great work done by Ms O’Doherty, I call strongly on the Minister to allow the commission of inquiry to go ahead.“

Fidelma Healy Eames, of Fine Gael, said:

“I welcome back my colleagues. As citizens, we enjoy rights, but we never really know how strong they are until they are tested. Like others, I am worried about the sacking of Ms O’Doherty. She was expressing her right to report on various stories. For some reason or other, however, she has been sacked. A debate on the freedom of the press and journalists’ rights must be considered.”

Paul Coghlan, of Fine Gael, said:

“I also wish to compliment Ms Gemma O’Doherty on her research and writing on the Fr. Niall Molloy case. I have spoken on this matter before, as have several other Members. I agree very much with what has been said earlier today by Senator Kelly. Hopefully, now that the matter is with the Minister, something will be done.”

 

Quotes via KildareStreet.com

Previously: Gemma O’Doherty on broadsheet

devitt

John Devitt, from Transparency International Ireland, above, writes:

“The sacking of an award-winning investigative journalist who had reported on Garda malpractice could deter other reporters from exposing the abuse of power in Ireland. Gemma O’Doherty, an investigative reporter and chief features writer at the Irish Independent newspaper, was dismissed last month. The Guardian newspaper reports that her dismissal followed an investigation into the cancellation of penalty points awarded against Martin Callinan, the Garda (Irish Police) Commissioner.”

“Ms O’Doherty was investigating unlawful cancellations and changes in traffic police records by senior gardaí and also found that the Garda Commissioner had penalty points cancelled after he was detected speeding in his own car. The Commissioner insists that he was speeding while on official Garda business.”

“Ms O’Doherty has worked with the Irish Independent for 16 years and has won numerous awards for her reporting, including Campaigning Journalist of the Year. Her reports into the failure of prosecutors and the Gardaí to fully investigate the death in suspicious circumstances of Roscommon priest Fr. Niall Molloy, led to the reopening of the case in 2010.”

“The National Union of Journalists has stated that Ms O’Doherty has been unfairly treated and is supporting her case for unfair dismissal. TI Ireland is calling for her reinstatement, and for the introduction of editorial policies that protect the independence of investigative journalists and editorial staff at all newspaper groups in Ireland.”

“Late last year, TI Ireland also highlighted the potential chilling effect of legal threats against Irish journalists and commentators during a meeting with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. The Special Rapporteur expressed concern about the threat of litigation against Irish journalists in her report to the UN General Assembly. She called for aggrieved parties to use the Press Council and Press Ombudsman to resolve complaints about the fairness and accuracy of coverage.”

Previously: Difficult To Quash

The UN On Ireland’s Human Rights Defenders (And Denis)

Pic: The Epoch Times

Gemmaa(Sacked Irish Independent journalist Gemma O’Doherty)

And then some….
gemma1gemma2gemma3Foreign outrage at the sacking of Gemma O’Doherty, top, from the Irish Independent.

But the lack of coverage from the rest of the Irish media has prompted the following…

 

 

Controversy Over Firing Of Leading Irish Investigative Reporter (Muckraker)

Previously: Pass It On

Meanwhile At INM

Dear Mr Rae

We Do Have Truth But We Don’t Have Accountability

Going Rogue

Meanwhile On Talbot Street

 

Context

Alternatively…

gemmatalbotrea(Top: protest at INM HQ, Talbot Street, Dublin and Gemma O’Doherty. Botttom: Stephen Rae, editor-in-chief of The Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and The Evening Herald)

From today’s Guardian:

[Gemma] O’Doherty’s subsequent enforced departure from the Independent has received no coverage in the rest of the Irish mainstream media.

But she has had backing from the National Union of Journalists. Its Irish secretary, Seamus Dooley, said: “We believe she has been badly treated and has a case for unfair dismissal.”

Now a concerned group of campaigners on behalf of Molloy’s family along with relatives of other murder victims who have grievances against the police have taken up O’Doherty’s case. They have written to Rea:

 

Dear Mr Rae,

We write to you in disbelief at your decision to fire Gemma O’Doherty, chief features writer at the Irish Independent and one of the country’s most talented and courageous journalists.

Gemma is a reporter of the highest professionalism and integrity, who has done huge service for her country, and her newspaper, through her work in exposing injustice and Garda corruption.

We are the parents of children who have been murdered. We represent Irish people who have lost family members in violent circumstances. Some of us have been very badly treated by the Gardai.

When the criminal justice system and the Gardai failed us, Gemma listened. Now you seek to silence her. In doing so, you must also want to silence us.

Ms O’Doherty’s remarkable journalistic pedigree speaks for itself. In her 16 years with the Irish Independent, she has won numerous awards – from campaigning journalist of the year to medical journalist of the Year, and last year, she was nominated for two national media awards, crime journalist of the year, and feature writer of the year.

Her ground-breaking journalism has led to the establishment of two state investigations in recent months, and she is singlehandedly responsible for the reopening of the 30-year-old murder file into Fr Niall Molloy.

Her campaigning writing is regularly raised on the floor of Leinster House, and on television and radio. Indeed, your own Sunday Independent recently wrote a lengthy article praising her astonishing work on the horrific murder of Fr Molloy.

As Irish citizens, we see her dismissal as nothing less than a grotesque attack on press freedom, human rights and democracy.

Your silencing of Gemma – the only person you have handpicked for sacking in INM – is a morally repugnant and indefensible act which has consequences for all of your readers and the broader public.

There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and shame the devil. Gemma had no problem doing that. It is high time that others followed her lead.

We await an explanation from you, to your readers and the Irish public, as to why you have treated such a fine journalist in this way.

Signed:

Catherine Costelloe (Searching for the Missing/Irish Families for Justice/ex-Scotland Yard); Liz Molloy (Justice for Fr Molloy, Roscommon/Offaly); Lucia O’Farrell (Justice for Shane O’Farrell, Monaghan); John Nugent (Justice for Patrick Nugent, Clare);

Nancy Shanahan (Justice for Aongus Shanahan, Limerick); Julia Walsh (Justice for Desmond Walsh, Limerick); Genevieve and Walter Smith (Victims of Garda harassment, Cavan); Nuala O’Gabhnain (Justice for Jim Goonan, Offaly); David Walsh (Justice for Mary and Molly Walsh, Waterford) Sean and Anne Doherty (Justice for Mary Boyle, Donegal).

Controversy over firing of leading Irish investigative journalist (Roy Greenslade, The Guardian)

(Photocall Ireland)

 

gemma:talbot
callinanrea(From top: Protest at INM and journalist Gemma O’Doherty, Irish Independent report from April and Stephen Rae, group editor of the Independent titles)

You may recall a post concerning the recent dismissal from the Irish Independent of journalist Gemma O’Doherty.

The Senior Features writer and Travel Editor was usually in receipt of high praise from her editors.

But this changed after she discovered in April that Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan was caught speeding while driving his private car, and his penalty points subsequently quashed.

Her then boss Rae reportedly called O’Doherty a ‘rogue reporter’ for calling to Callinan’s house to confirm details in the story.

Some weeks after the story appeared managing director Declan Carlyle informed O’Doherty that her job was gone.

It has since emerged that among a list of high-profile names who have had points quashed is a Stephen Rae, who was reportedly caught speeding in Belfield, Dublin on the morning of November 5, 2009, and whose two points were subsequently terminated by gardai with no reason given.

[We have contacted Stephen Rea to clarify if this was indeed him. He has not responded and we offer him a right of reply]

The cancellation of fixed charge notices,and subsequently penalty points – other than for fire brigade drivers, ambulance drivers, on-duty Gardaí or people driving a car under the direction of a Garda – is not provided for in Irish law.

Gardaí have been using an ‘ad-hoc’ policy of discretion in relation to terminating penalty points which has no statutory basis.

Meanwhile, separately, O’Doherty was also investigating examples of summonses not being served on high-profile people from political, media, sports and legal circles when she got fired.

On May 9, she wrote how three summonses for three different motoring offences were not served on Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy.

And she was compiling a story in relation to the case of summonses not being served against two high-profile people in legal circles when she was dismissed by INM.

(Photocall Ireland)

Gemmaa
MolloyyveronicaFrom top: Gemma O’Doherty, her reporting on the Fr Niall Molloy case and Veronica Guerin’s report on the missing file on October 9, 1994.

Journalist Gemma O’Doherty, recently sacked by the Irish Independent, has spent years working on the unsolved 1985 murder of Fr Niall Molloy in Co. Offaly.

Her articles directly lead to the gardaí reopening the case in 2010.

With the recent decision by the DPP not to pursue the case further we share an interview Gemma gave Audrey Carville on RTÉ’s Drivetime first broadcast on August 22 that you may have missed..

Audrey Carville: “Fr Niall Molloy was killed at a house, owned by friends, and business acquaintances in Co. Offaly, in July 1985. An inquest found that he had been badly beaten and died as a result of his injuries, but no-one has ever been jailed for his killing. This week following an investigation by the Garda Serious Crime Review team, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to prosecute anyone for Fr Molloy’s death. His family today reiterated it’s call for an independent inquiry into the killing. Well, I’ve been speaking to journalist Gemma O’Doherty who began by reminding me of the events of that night, following a wedding party at the home of Richard and Theresa Flynn in Clara.”

Gemma O’Doherty: “On the day of the wedding in July 1985, we know that Fr Molloy, who was a very close friend of Theresa and Richard Flynn, he kept horses on their land. We know that he was deeply upset about certain things that were happening in the relationship and we know that he had requested a large sum of money that was owed to him and he was deeply disturbed that this money was not being returned to him. Fr Niall was a wealthy man and he had a love of horses but I believe his vocation came first and I know that he was a very good priest to his people up in Roscommon. We know that the following day, after the wedding, that there was a big party in the house and that there were influential people present. And we know that Fr Niall then went to the house. What we also know that happened, in certain hours, in the late evening or into the early morning is that Fr Niall was brutally beaten to death. We know that he sustained at least five injuries to his head, and many, many more to his body. And we also know definitively that he was left to die, for up to six hours. The histology of his brain proved that conclusively. And then, what happened after that is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of all of this. We know that the Garda investigation that took place was shambolic. Many, many people with vital evidence were never interviewed. I have been working on this case for three years now and I know that there are at least five institutions of the State that have very serious questions to answer.”

Carville: “The owner of the house, Richard Flynn, he stood trial for manslaughter.”

O’Doherty: “Correct, he did indeed. And he suggested that there had been a row over drink and that they had been having drinks and that it was all a terrible accident. Now the injuries to Fr Molloy do not suggest that this was an accident.”

Carville: “Mr Justice Frank Roe. He brought that trial to a fairly sudden halt after a few hours?”

O’Doherty: “He did. I mean it is considered to be one of the most astonishing trials in Irish criminal history. He directed the jury to acquit the defendant. Now the defendant was the wrong man. But thanks to the incredible campaigning journalism of my murdered colleague Veronica Guerin, we later found out that the Molloy file was stolen by Martin Cahill in 1987, from the DPP’s office. Now, Martin Cahill, ‘The General’ knew that that file, the contents of it would be embarrassing to the authorities and he wanted to get something on the authorities. And, among those contents, were letters written by Justice Frank Roe, one of them in advance of the trial, stating that he knew the parties involved. Now, based on that he should not have been allowed to hear that trial but he did. I have interviewed two of his former colleagues on the bench and they have both said to me that he should not have been involved in the case. Now the man is not here today so unfortunately these questions cannot be put to him.”

Carville: “And Mr Justice Roe died. He passed away in 2003. There was a new investigation then, Gemma, ordered and began in late 2010. What was the basis for that?”

O’Doherty: “Well, earlier in 2010, a very brave individual, a hero and a patriot, came to me, a man from Clara and he said ‘I would like you to look at this case’. But thanks to the information that that individual gave me, it sent me on a long journey, up and down the country. On foot of what I discovered, much of which I was not in a position, we were not in the Irish Independent able to publish a lot of it. But I felt it had to be handed over to the guards. Much of the evidence that I handed over to the guards showed that the original investigation was profoundly flawed. We know that evidence was contaminated, we know that witness statements were not carried out in a way that was appropriate. And I really did hope that, as more importantly the family did, and the Irish public that there would be truth, justice and accountability in this. That was three years ago. And we now have this decision from the DPP that no charges will be brought. Now, both the family and myself and people in Clara and Roscommon, we are very happy that the Garda Síochána are out of this case because we cannot have a situation in this country where Gardaí are investigating Gardaí.”

Carville: “And this is an issue because you mentioned ‘The General’ Martin Cahill. There are reports, it has been reported in the past that the Gardaí did a deal with Martin Cahill and another criminal, John Traynor, in exchange for that file on Fr Molloy.”

O’Doherty: “Correct. The State authorities were so desperate to get this file back that they did a deal with Martin Cahill and dropped charges against his associate John Traynor, one of the most wanted criminals in this State.The file was returned, the family were informed of that.”

Carville: “And have the Gardaí ever responded to those allegations.”

O’Doherty: “No, I mean I, and other media, and the family have been asking Martin Callinan for almost two years to please explain this Garda deal which Paul Williams has written about, Veronica Guerin wrote about. It is in the public domain and has been so, for many, many years. But the Garda Síochána fail to inform the public, which is their duty about the detail of this deal and why the State was so desperate to get the Fr Molloy file back.”

Carville: “The investigation which began in late 2010 and has just ended. What did that investigation focus on? Did it uncover anything?”

O’Doherty: “I mean really most of the evidence that was given to the Gardaí was based on the investigation that I had done and I had given them dozens and dozens of names, many of them people who had never been interviewed and really wanted the truth to come out. Now the family are being told by the Gardaí that some people were not willing to speak. But I’m afraid in Clara and Roscommon, and it would be my opinion too, that we feel that the right questions weren’t asked of these people. The reality is, Audrey, that the dogs in the street, and I hate to use that awful cliché know what happened. We know the truth. Many people know the truth. In the Midlands, people know the truth about this case. So you could argue we do have truth but we don’t have accountability and nobody has been held accountable for this. And the question is why? Thanks to the brilliant work of Roscommon Senator John Kelly this has been described by him, in the Senate, as ‘the biggest cover-up in the history of the State’. You know, the institutions of the State need to be held accountable and Minister Alan Shatter, who promised me in Leinster House nearly three years ago that he, in Government, would deal with this case. He now has to keep his pledge to the Molloy family and to the Irish public so that the Irish public can have faith in the criminal justice system.”

Carville: “Do you believe that will happen? Do you believe there will be an independent inquiry? Or, is this the end of the matter?”

O’Doherty: “Well somebody, somebody whose opinion I greatly respect said recently that ‘hell will freeze over before accountability happens in the Fr Molloy case’. And while hell may freeze over there is an awful lot of hate, and pressure coming on the authorities now because this is not the only case where the Gardaí have been accused of not doing their job. I am very unhappy with the Cold Case Unit and, more importantly, the family of this wonderful man are deeply unhappy with the Garda Síochána.”

Carville: “That was journalist Gemma O’Doherty talking to me earlier this evening about the killing of Fr Niall Molloy in 1985. Well we contacted An Garda Síochána with a number of questions about this case. We asked them would they be making any comment on the decision by the DPP not to pursue prosecutions, we also asked them why their three-year investigation into Fr Molloy’s death yielded nothing and why was a deal done by An Garda Síochána whereby charges were dropped against criminal John Traynor, in return for the file on Fr Molloy. We received this statement from the Gardaí in response. They said: ‘The death of Fr Molloy has been fully investigated, a file was prepared and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a direction given. An Garda Síochána have no further comment to make’.”

Listen here