Press must be allowed to protect sources

THE Mahon Tribunal, by all accounts, is set to take the Irish Times to court, and who will be the winners? Yes, you’ve guessed it — the legal profession.

Journalists are likely to be sentenced for contempt, legal fees will be paid and multiple court appearances will ensue. To what end? The integrity of the press and the protection of its sources are fundamental to our democratic society.

The legal pursuit of journalists, in this instance, just takes the focus away from the real issue of concern to Irish citizens.