Dublin journalists threatened following gangland murders

Independent News and Media say police have warned journalists that their lives could be in danger

Garda officers attend the scene following the shooting of a second man in Dublin earlier this week (PA)

Threats have been issued to journalists in Dublin following two gangland murders in the capital.

Independent News and Media, which owns titles including the Irish Independent, the Evening Herald and the Sunday World, announced that a number of journalists had been warned by police that their lives could be in danger.

A statement released by Independent News and Media (INM) said: “A number of reporters have been formally notified by the Garda Siochána that their safety is at risk from organised criminals.

“INM is working with gardaí to strengthen security around these journalists and taking every precaution to ensure their safety. The threats are understood to have emanated from criminal gangs in Dublin.

“After consulting with the reporters concerned, INM has decided to make these threats public in order to highlight the danger posed to the media.”

INM editor-in-chief Stephen Rae said: “This is an outrageous threat to the freedom of the press in Ireland and we are taking the threats with the utmost seriousness. The safety of our journalists is of paramount importance.”

Mr Rae said it was “disturbing” that the threats had been made ahead of the 20th anniversary of the death of his former colleague, Veronica Guerin. The Sunday Independent reporter was murdered in June 1996 after exposing the activities of some Ireland’s most notorious gangsters.