A good reason to expand SCC - Gangland threat to journalists

GERRY ADAMS’ restatement of Sinn Féin policy earlier this week, that his party would close the Special Criminal Court, seemed, at the time, predictably self-serving and ill-judged.

However, yesterday’s statement from Independent News and Media (INM) that gardaí have warned that a number of journalists face serious threats from organised crime makes it just seem ludicrous. Though Sinn Féin had nothing to do with yesterday’s sinister threats their plan to close the SCC would play into the hands of those prepared to use such chilling intimidation. That “good republican” Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy will be sentenced today for tax evasion after an SCC conviction must also influence their position.

It’s almost 20 years since Independent reporter Veronica Guerin was murdered by criminals. Her colleague Martin O’Hagan was murdered by the LVF in 2001 so these threats must be taken seriously.