Police treatment of No Stone journalists ‘violates media freedoms’

Police arrested Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, who contributed to documentary about County Down gangland murder, in summer 2018

Two Northern Irish journalists arrested over the alleged theft of confidential documents relating to the Loughinisland massacre were told their bail would only be extended if they agreed not to talk about aspects of the case.

Amnesty International said the treatment of Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey meant freedom of the press in Northern Ireland was at risk, while the National Union of Journalists said the police had violated “basic media freedoms” amid growing international concern about the case.