NUJ seeks meeting and publication of key report in letter to police ombudsman for Northern Ireland

Ms Jacqui Durkin,

Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

Dear Ms Durkin,

November 2nd marks International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and is an opportunity to highlight the global attacks on media workers.

The murder of Martin O'Hagan on 28 September 2001 predates the designation by the United Nations General Assembly of that significant date in the UN calendar.

That designation was  made in 2013, the same year that the police investigation into that murder was referred to your office by the Public Prosecution Service. The report of that investigation has never been published.

Profound questions about the police investigation remain unanswered. No one has been successfully prosecuted for the murder of Martin, an investigative journalist with the Sunday World and the secretary of our Belfast and district branch. Initial charges brought against suspects were dropped and there was deep concern about the nature of the investigation, the handing of evidence and the possibility of a cover up surrounding those involved in the planning and execution of the murder. These concerns remain.

Members of Mr O'Hagan's family were told in 2024 that the OPONI report had been completed.

In correspondence released by Niall Murphy, solicitor acting for Martin's brother earlier this year, the Chief Executive of OPONI, Mr Hugh Hume said the OPONI was awaiting the appointment of a new Ombudsman before publishing the report.

At the time the NUJ joined Amnesty International in expressing disappointment, given that the powers of the Police Ombudsman had been designated to the senior staff of OPONI in December 2025.

Following the announcement of your appointment by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on June 24th we had hoped that publication of the report would be forthcoming.

On 28th September we gathered in Writer's Square, in the shadow of your office, to mark the 25th anniversary of Martin's death. We were joined by two of his daughters at a moving ceremony and by a large number of colleagues, NUJ members and representatives of the trade union movement and civic society.

We gathered to celebrate Martin's legacy as a journalist and as a trade unionist. We also gathered in anger at his killing, at the failure of the PSNI to secure safe prosecutions and at the unacceptable delay by OPONI in publishing the long-delayed report.

On International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists we are requesting immediate publication of the report and would welcome the opportunity of a meeting with you to discuss our concerns.

Laura Davison                                    Séamus Dooley

General Secretary                           Assistant General Secretary