Derry MLA Sinéad McLaughlin expresses solidarity with Co. Derry reporter Patricia Devlin and accuses paramilitaries of attacking press freedom

The Co. Derry reporter spoke out at the weekend after her name was daubed on a wall in East Belfast alongside graffiti of a crosshair.

Ms. Devlin, who has been the subject of multiple death threats in the past due to her coverage of paramilitaries, has said the threats were an attack on press freedom.

Ms. McLaughlin said: “A free press is fundamental to a free society. It is essential that politicians demonstrate their solidarity with journalists, especially when those journalists are exposing the murky world of criminal gangs and drug dealing.

“Paramilitaries have no place in our society, nor have threats to journalists. The increase over recent months of threats against the media is another indication of the difficult times we are in.

“It is essential that the PSNI takes effective action against those issuing threats, whether by graffiti, post or social media.

“As a female politician I am also extremely concerned at the targeting of women journalists, which adds another upsetting dimension to the criminal actions of these gangs. They have no credibility in our society and must be eradicated.”

She said the Stormont press freedom groupis ‘united against those who seek to undermine the ability of the media to shine a light on the criminal underworld.’