Human Rights Watch condemned a court decision requiring journalist Ed Moloney to surrender notes from interviews conducted with the William Alfred Stobie, nine years ago.
In July, Stobie was charged with the 1989 murder of Belfast solicitor Patrick Finucane. Even though he had admitted in court that he was a police informer at the time of the murder. It was also revealed recently, that as long ago as 1990 Stobie confessed his involvement in Finucane's killing to Royal Ulster Constabulary detectives who failed to pursue the matter.
The government of the United Kingdom has consistently refused to establish an independent judicial inquiry into Finucane's murder, despite persistent and credible allegations that security forces colluded in the murder.
"This decision sets an extremely dangerous precedent, "said Julia Hall, counsel in the Europe and Central Asia division of Human Rights Watch. "It is a clear signal to journalists that there may be serious consequences if they choose to report on possible government wrongdoing. Journalists in Northern Ireland may now think twice about investigating and reporting on misconduct by state authorities."
In August, Human Rights Watch sent letters to Prime Minister Tony Blair and Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, stating that there has been little progress in building confidence in the government's response to allegations of collusion and urged them to halt the pursuit of Moloney.
