Irish Examiner journalist wins award for series on diocesan abuse scandal

IRISH Examiner journalist Claire O’Sullivan was last night named Social/Humanitarian Affairs Journalist of The Year at the Bord Gáis Energy National Media Awards.

Claire was shortlisted for the award for a series of exclusive news stories and thought-provoking commentary and analysis pieces which helped lift the lid on the scandal of clerical abuse in the Diocese of Cloyne.

She was the driving force behind a sustained Irish Examiner campaign which forced the Government to publish the much delayed report into clerical abuse and eventually forced Bishop John Magee to step aside.

Paying tribute to Claire O’Sullivan’s award, Irish Examiner editor Tim Vaughan said: “This award is welcome and valuable recognition of campaigning journalism by the newspaper on issues that require challenge and investigation for the general wellbeing of society.”

Irish Examiner Features Editor Vickie Maye was nominated in the same category for her exclusive story of Irish intern Niamh Gunn’s battle to free Walter Swift, who spent 26 years in a US prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Irish Examiner soccer correspondent Liam Mackey was shortlisted for the Sports Journalist of the Year Award.

It was a successful night for the Thomas Crosbie Holdings Group as Evening Echo reporter Edel O’Connell won the Regional News Journalist of the Year.

Overall Journalist of the Year was awarded jointly to Shane Ross and Nick Webb for their coverage of the Fás expenses scandal.

An inaugural lifetime achievement award was presented to RTÉ’s longstanding Questions and Answers presenter John Bowman.