Media Confidential Are UK journalists under state surveillance?
Jan 30, 2025
Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, award-winning investigative journalists, share a gripping account of their experiences following the 1994 Loughinisland massacre, where six civilians were killed. They reveal shocking truths about police collusion and the unlawful surveillance they faced after exposing the case in their film, No Stone Unturned. The conversation raises critical questions about the state of press freedom in the UK and the chilling effects of surveillance on journalism, urging a need for greater accountability and protection for journalists.
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Loughinisland Massacre Investigation
- Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, investigative journalists, launched The Detail website and began investigating the Loughinisland massacre.
- This massacre involved the murder of six Catholic men in a bar in 1994, with no convictions despite substantial evidence.
The Leaked Report
- Barry McCaffrey received an unredacted police ombudsman's report detailing the Loughinisland massacre investigation failures.
- The report revealed police surveillance of the suspects and a decision to call off the operation before the attack.
Arrests and Raids
- Following the film's release, Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey were arrested and their homes raided by armed police.
- They were accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act for including the leaked document in their film.