Northern Ireland: Failure of Martin O’Hagan murder investigation has created ‘an environment of impunity’

Amnesty International backs calls by NUJ for a fresh investigation into the killing

No-one convicted in 23 years since murder of journalist

The failure to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Martin O’Hagan has helped create an environment of impunity for those who continue to threaten journalists in Northern Ireland today, Amnesty International has said on the eve of the twenty-third anniversary of the killing of the reporter.

On September 28 2001, Sunday World journalist Martin O’Hagan was shot dead in Lurgan by members of an illegal paramilitary group. To this day, no one has been held to account for his brutal murder.

Amnesty has backed National Union of Journalists (NUJ) calls for a fresh investigation into the killing.

Journalists in Northern Ireland, particularly those covering activities by paramilitary and organised crime groups, are regularly subject to threats of violence.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said:

“The public execution of Martin O’Hagan was designed to send a clear message to journalists in Northern Ireland that they are not safe.

“It is simply unacceptable that, in the twenty-three years since Martin O’Hagan was shot dead, not a single person has been held accountable.

“This failure has created an environment of impunity for those who continue to threaten journalists in Northern Ireland today.

“It is notable that, in 2024, threats of serious violence continue to be directed at journalists from the very same sort of armed groups which killed Martin O’Hagan.

“We support calls from the National Union of Journalists for a fresh investigation into the killing. Press freedom must be resolutely defended.”